Occurrence of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in selected marine invertebrates, sediment, and seawater around Alexandria, Egypt

Abstract

Samples of seawater, sediment and the following invertebrates were collected from the Mediterranean Sea in the neighborhood of Alexandria, Egypt: sea urchins (Echinus spp.), clams (Tapes spp.) and wedge shells (Donax trunculus). Samples (165) were collected from Nov. 1979-July 1980. Average counts (per 100 ml or 100 g) of V. parahaemolyticus content were as follows: seawater, 36; sea urchins, 349; sediment, 436; wedge shells, 534; clams, 1872. Samples collected in the summer months contained higher levels of V. parahaemolyticus than winter samples.