RESUMO
The aim of the present study was to verify the antimicrobial susceptibility profile and virulence factors of Vibrio parahaemolyticus isolated from water and bivalve mollusks. A high percentage of V. parahaemolyticus was isolated in natura, processed bivalves tissues, and surrounding water (75%, 20%, and 59%, respectively). The most potential virulence phenotype in V. parahaemolyticus isolates was amylase production (97%) followed by DNase (83%), phospholipase (70%), ß-hemolytic activity (57%). The tdh and trh genes were not detected. Besides, a high antimicrobial resistance was observed for ampicillin (97%), minimum inhibitory concentration [MIC]â¯=â¯400 µg and cephalothin (93%, MICâ¯≤â¯100 µg). The absence of expression of tdh and trh virulence genes excluded the toxigenic potential of V. parahaemolyticus isolates; however, the high prevalence of antimicrobial resistance among the environmental strains is a risk to human health.