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Applied and Environmental Microbiology, June 2008, p. 3323-3327, Vol. 74, No. 11
0099-2240/08/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AEM.00060-08
Copyright © 2008, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Shewanella and Photobacterium spp. in Oysters and Seawater from the Delaware Bay{triangledown}

Gary P. Richards,1* Michael A. Watson,1 Edward J. Crane III,2 Iris G. Burt,3 and David Bushek3

United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Dover, Delaware 19901,1 Pomona College, Claremont, California 91711,2 Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory, Rutgers University, Port Norris, New Jersey 083493

Received 8 January 2008/ Accepted 23 March 2008

Shewanella algae, S. putrefaciens, and Photobacterium damselae subsp. damselae are indigenous marine bacteria and human pathogens causing cellulitis, necrotizing fasciitis, abscesses, septicemia, and death. Infections are rare and are most often associated with the immunocompromised host. A study was performed on the microbiological flora of oysters and seawater from commercial oyster harvesting sites in the Delaware Bay, New Jersey. From 276 water and shellfish samples tested, 1,421 bacterial isolates were picked for biochemical identification and 170 (12.0%) of the isolates were presumptively identified as S. putrefaciens, 26 (1.8%) were presumptively identified as P. damselae subsp. damselae, and 665 (46.8%) could not be identified using the API 20E identification database. Sequencing of the 16S rRNA genes of 22 S. putrefaciens-like isolates identified them as S. abalonesis, S. algae, S. baltica, S. hafniensis, S. marisflavi, S. putrefaciens, Listonella anguillarum, and P. damselae. Beta-hemolysis was produced by some S. algae and P. damselae isolates, while isolates of S. baltica and L. anguillarum, species perceived as nonpathogenic, also exhibited β-hemolysis and growth at 37°C. To our knowledge, this is the first time these beta-hemolytic strains were reported from shellfish or seawater from the Delaware Bay. Pathogenic Shewanella and Photobacterium species could pose a health threat through the ingestion of contaminated seafood, by cuts or abrasions acquired in the marine environment, or by swimming and other recreational activities.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: USDA, ARS, Delaware State University, James W. W. Baker Center, Dover, DE 19901. Phone: (302) 857-6419. Fax: (302) 857-6451. E-mail: gary.richards{at}ars.usda.gov

{triangledown} Published ahead of print on 31 March 2008.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, June 2008, p. 3323-3327, Vol. 74, No. 11
0099-2240/08/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AEM.00060-08
Copyright © 2008, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.





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