Bivalvia, including clams are filter-feeding organisms that concentrate microorganisms, especially the human enteric viruses and pathogenic Vibrio species. This study aimed to detect and accurate identify Vibrio sp. in clam's specimens especially that of puplic health important as cholerae, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio mimicus and Vibrio vulnificus using biochemical methods and PCR methods (16SrRNA and mPCR). The prevalence of Vibrio species was 44% and 24% in the examined clam samples collected from Alexandria and Suez gulf, respectively, by traditional biochemical method. The prevalence of V. cholerae and V. mimicus in the examined clams samples collected from Suez gulf was found to be 4% and 8% by m-PCR method, respectively, while pathogenic vibrio spp. failed to be detected in all the examined samples of clams collected from Alexandria governorate by m-PCR.. Overall, results of the present study indicated that the using of 16SrRNA and m-PCR allowed rapid and accurate identification of the predominant and pathogenic Vibrio species which failed to be accurately identified by biochemical method. Furthermore, presence of Vibrio cholerae and Vibrio mimicus in clams samples considered a life threatening to human health. |
