Prevalence and Molecular Genetic Characteristics of Vibrio parahaemolyticus New 03:K6 and 04:K68 / 병원감염관리

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Vibrio parahaemolyticus belonged to the new 03K6 serotype was demonstrated an unusual potential to spread and an enhanced propensity to cause infection in the worldwide. Recently, increased numbers of V. parahaemolyticus 03K6 had been isolated in Korea, and we analyzed the prevalence and molecular genetic characteristics of V. parahaemolyticus 03K6 isolates. METHODS: V. parahaemolyticus were isolated from clinical specimens of patients with diarrhea in Hanyang University Hospital, Seoul, Korea, from 1998 to 2005. The serovars of isolates were determined by slide agglutination test with specific antisera. All isolates were examined for the presence of tdh/trh genes. AGS-PCR method detecting the new 03K6 clone was used in this study. We analyzed clonality of these isolates by infrequent restriction site-polymerase chain reaction (IRS-PCR). RESULTS: Thirty-six strains were isolated from 1998 to 2005. The main serotype of isolates were 03K6 (24/36 67%), All of them have tdh gene but not trh gene and an unique toxRS gene of the new 03K6. The morphotypes of 03K6 isolates show a same pattern of IRS-PCR, but can easily be differentiated from non-03K6 and 04K68 isolates. CONCLUSION: The 03K6 was a main serotype of V. parahaemolyticus isolated from 1998 to 2005 and they show same molecular characteristics.