ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the etiological characteristics of food poisoning isolates of Vibrio parahaemolyticus (VP) from 2019 to 2021 in Zhongshan City. Methods A total of 37 strains of Vibrio parahaemolyticus isolated from 8 food poisoning incidents in Zhongshan City from 2019 to 2021 were collected, including 1 residual food isolate and 36 human isolates. The genetic correlation of Vibrio parahaemolyticus food poisoning isolates in this region was analyzed by serological typing, virulence gene detection (TLH, TDH, and TRH), drug sensitivity test, pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and multipoint sequence typing (MLST). Results The 37 strains of Vibrio parahaemolyticus were divided into 4 serotypes: O3:K6, O10:K4, O4:K8, and O4:KUT. The tdh+ and trh- were the main virulence genotypes, accounting for 97.30% (36/37). The drug resistance rate of cefazolin was 40.54% (15 strains R, 22 strains I), and no multidrug-resistant strains were found. The 37 VP strains were divided into 23 PFGE types and 6 cluster groups, with correlation coefficients ranging from 60.4%-100%. The multipoint sequencing typing showed that the 37 VP strains were divided into 9 ST types and 3 complex groups, of which ST3 type was the main type (23 strains, 62.1%). Conclusion This study has found that the dominant virulence types of Vibrio parahaemolyticus food poisoning isolates in Zhongshan City from 2019 to 2021 are tdh+ and trh-, and 37 representative strains can be divided into 6 PFGE clusters and 9 ST types with MLST type being mainly ST3. This study has identified the rare serotype O10:K4 which has caused an increase in the proportion of food poisoning events, suggesting that we should strengthen detection and be alert to the risk of continued local epidemics of new rare serotype strains.