2005 Volume 79 Issue 12 Pages 931-936
To quantify the number ofVibrio vulnificusin shellfish, we compared the most probable number (MPN) combined with a culture (MPN-culture) or polymerase-chain reaction (PCR) assay (MPNPCR) to a quantitative PCR assay. Enrichment in alkaline peptone water by MPN was conducted at 25 and 35°C. Enrichment at 35°Cwas superior or similar to enrichment at 25°Cinover 65% of samples by MPNculture and in more than 75% of samples by MPN-PCR assay.V. vulnificuswas more easily isolated on chromogenic agar medium during culture, MPN-PCR assay was superior or similar to MPNculture in over 90% of samples by enrichment at 25°C and to over 88% of samples by enrichment at 35°C. The number ofV. vulnificusby quantitative PCR assay was similar to that of MPN-PCR assay in 6 of 8 samples but not from MPNculture. V. vulnificus contamination was frequently detected in samples from Kyushu Island.
