When it gets warmer, cases of Vibriosis start to soar (This doesn’t mean that Vibriosis prevails only when it is warm). Many would be fond of Vibriosis as an infection associated with undercooked shellfish consumption and razor cuts by sharp shellfish shells.
Vibriosis is a disease caused by bacterial infection of the Vibrio bacteria family that accompany vomiting, diarrhea, general pain, fever etc. It could develop lethal symptoms such as sepsis if the bacteria access the blood vessels or it could cause immunogenic shocks.
Why is Vibriosis such an abundant disease and how should one put in measures to prevent or treat Vibriosis?
Family of Vibrio & What causes Vibriosis
The Vibrio genus is a gram-negative rod-shaped bacterium that is associated with numerous aquatic and marine habitats. The infamous Cholera is actually caused by the Vibrio Cholerae bacteria which is often associated contaminated water sources and farmed animals.
Thus scientists classify the Vibrio genus to Cholera-bacteria and Non-Cholera bacteria and rather treat Cholera as an independent disease.[1]
Vibriosis is a disease caused by the Non-Cholera Vibrio genus bacteria and the most common bacteria of the genus are Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio vulnificus, and Vibrio alginolyticus.
Vibrio species tend to reproduce best between 13 and 22 °C in aquatic and marine environments.(Please note this isn’t the atmospheric temperature).
Also, those mostly responsible for Vibriosis infection are halophilic, thus thrive in seawater. Thus, Vibriosis infection cases soar between May and October when the weather gets warm.[2]
Symptoms and Characteristics of Vibriosis
Vibriosis symptoms may vary by people. Typically, symptoms last for 3 days and may include but not limited to severe general pain, diarrhea, fever, nausea, and vomiting.
Symptoms could develop to much more fatal consequences such as requirement of amputation, sepsis or even death. Vibriosis has a generally high fatality rate thus, if symptoms appear after a vacation to the sea or oceans or after consumption of seafood that is not limited to only shellfish or any kind of contact of seawater with wounds etc, one should immediately consult with a doctor.[3]
Why shellfish? and what people should be aware
Vibriosis infection isn’t limited to consumption of undercooked shellfish. Infection could occur by the bacteria entering wounds and consumption of any type of undercooked seafood.
Vibriosis infection is most common by shellfish because shellfish are filter-eaters which they filter the water and sand. Shellfish contact the marine environment by filter-feeding much more than we think and the Vibrio bacteria tend to accumulate within the shellfish.
Thus Vibriosis isn’t limited to undercooked shellfish consumption and contact with the Vibrio bacteria abundant environment or consumption of any seafood could be a potential cause of infection.
Also, there isn’t any ordinary method to sense or detect Vibriosis. Vibrio bacteria abundant shellfish, animals or environments don’t have a distinctive smell or appearance.
Thus, simply no rotten smell of a shellfish doesn’t mean that it doesn’t contain vibrio bacteria.
Thus, those who have any wounds or cut lesions must avoid contact with sea water or the ocean and take precaution measures if any cuts by shellfish shells or contact with shellfish shells.
Also, shellfish should be consumed after stored hours in conditions lower than 5°C and cooked in temperature higher than 85°C.
Washing food thoroughly in flowing fresh water(not seawater) could also help wash away the bacteria but this isn’t much of a reliable method that people should trust.
Also, people should note that although cases soar from late spring through early Autumn when the temperature is warm, Vibrio bacteria tend to reproduce better in such warm conditions but do not perish in colder conditions.
Thus, precaution measures throughout the whole year is required.
Treatment of Vibriosis
If infected, patients should hydrate often to compensate for diarrhea. For those (not limited of course) who have a medical history of liver diseases, elderly, history of any kind of chronic disease, taking immunosuppressive therapy should immediately consult with a doctor.
For severe symptoms, diagnosis by a doctor is mandatory as there isn’t any fixed therapies for Vibriosis and from drug or antibiotic type to administration method may vary by patient.
Vibriosis could develop fatal symptoms but some media spread the wrong idea that Vibriosis is a 'flesh eating' or necrotic disease.
Even a general bacterial infection of which bacteria cannot be determined could cause necrosis. Thus, Vibriosis isn’t necessarily a necrotic disease or a flesh eating disease but it has the potential to cause such symptoms or become even lethal.
Thus, when making plans to going on a vacation to the seashores or the ocean, done should always take in consideration of Vibriosis.
More points to note
*Smell or the freshness of a shellfish has nothing to do with whether the shellfish has Vibrio bacteria.
*Yes, Vibrio bacteria that cause Vibriosis could enter wounds or lesions and they flourish in seawater.
*Brackish water which means mixture of fresh water and sea water are also sources that Vibrio bacteria flourish
*Wearing gloves when handling shellfish or wearing protective footwear at the beach are also good pre-emptive measures to prevent Vibriosis
*Shellfish tend to acuumulate toxins on theri own by plankton such as Alexandrium tamarense
[1] Baker-Austin, Craig, et al. “Vibrio Spp. Infections.” Nature News, Nature Publishing Group, 21 June 2018, https://www.nature.com/articles/s41572-018-0005-8.
[2] Harrison, Jamie, et al. “The Increased Prevalence of Vibrio Species and the First Reporting of Vibrio Jasicida and Vibrio Rotiferianus at UK Shellfish Sites.” Water Research, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 1 Mar. 2022, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8841665/.
[3] “Vibrio Species Causing Vibriosis.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 5 Mar. 2019, https://www.cdc.gov/vibrio/index.html.
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