The presence of Vibrio parahaemolyticus were detected in 50 marine bivalve mollusks composed by 40 oysters samples collected at 15 restaurants in Rio de Janeiro City and 10 wild mussels' samples harvested in Ponta de Itaipu-Niterói. The Most Probable Number (MPN) technique was employed for the enumeration of V. parahaemolyticus, using glucose salt teepol broth (GSTB) and alcaline peptone water (APW) with 3% NaCl. At the same time, the samples were submitted on direct plating with APW added 1 and 3% NaCl. Both techniques were followed by plating onto TCBS agar. All the V. parahaemolyticus strains isolated were tested for Kanagawa phenomenon and they were also tested for the presence of urease. A total of 141 V. parahaemolyticus strains were detected, 62% revealed urease positive and these strains were serological characterized showing the predominance of serotypes: 010:K?, 011:K? and O3:K57 among 24 serotypes urease positive. Although, all strains of V. parahaemolyticus were Kanagawa negative the results suggest a high incidence of these microorganism in oysters consumed.
Vibrio parahaemolyticus; oysters; urease; foodborne disease