Antibiotic Resistance and Characteristics of <i>Vibrio parahaemolyticus</i> Isolated from Seafood Distributed in South Korea from 2021 to 2022

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and virulence characteristics of <i>Vibrio parahaemolyticus</i> (<i>V. parahaemolyticus</i>) isolated from olive flounder (<i>Paralichthys olivaceus</i>) and rockfish (<i>Sebaste...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Jonghoon Lee, Hansol Kim, Haiseong Kang, Yongchjun Park, Insun Joo, Hyochin Kim
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Microorganisms
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/7/1566
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:This study aimed to investigate the prevalence, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and virulence characteristics of <i>Vibrio parahaemolyticus</i> (<i>V. parahaemolyticus</i>) isolated from olive flounder (<i>Paralichthys olivaceus</i>) and rockfish (<i>Sebastes schlegelii</i>) sashimi samples sold in South Korea from 2021 to 2022. A total of 500 fish samples were analyzed, from which 17 <i>V. parahaemolyticus</i> isolates were obtained. Antibiotic susceptibility testing using the minimum inhibitory concentration method revealed that 58.8% (10/17) of the isolates exhibited resistance to ampicillin, indicating the potential for AMR transmission in seafood-associated pathogens. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and a polymerase chain reaction detected the presence of <i>tlh</i> and <i>trh</i> virulence genes in all isolates, suggesting their pathogenic potential. Although the overall isolation rate of <i>V. parahaemolyticus</i> was low, the presence of virulence and AMR genes indicates public health relevance associated with raw seafood consumption. The increasing consumer demand for raw fish, coupled with environmental changes such as rising ocean temperatures, underscores the necessity of continuous surveillance to prevent foodborne outbreaks. These findings emphasize the need for targeted AMR monitoring and further research to mitigate the dissemination of resistant <i>V. parahaemolyticus</i> strains and enhance seafood safety.
ISSN:2076-2607