Pathogenetic detection, retrospective and pathogenicity analysis of a fatal case of Vibrio vulnificus in Shenzhen, China

We report a 36-year-old male patient died ofV. vulnificus-induced septicaemia and multiple organ failure syndrome after oyster consumption at a restaurant. We isolated and identifiedV. vulnificus vv16015 from the patient ’s blood sample and antibiotic susceptibility tests indicated sensitivity to all 21 antibiotics. Oyster samples were subsequently collected from the restaurant’s supplier and three strains ofV. vulnificus were isolated. Whole genome sequencing and analysis revealed vv16015 to be distantly related to these strains and confirmed thatV. vulnificus contamination was present in the seafood of the restaurant and supplier. Using aGalleria mellonella larvae infection model, the virulence of vv16015 was determined to be higher than that of comparison strains isolated from a surviving patient (vv15018) and an oyster (vv220015). The human and environment distribution ofV. vulnificus in Shenzhen is sporadic and heterogeneous, and vv16015 is highly virulent compared to other strains.
Source: Gut Pathogens - Category: Microbiology Source Type: research