A Rapid, User Friendly Method for Detection of Total Vibrionaceae as an Indicator of Pathogenic Vibrio Species in Oysters and Seawater

<p>NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: Vibrio bacteria are the primary cause of bacteria-associated illness and deaths from seafood in the United States, most often from the consumption of raw or lightly cooked oysters. Vibrio infections have been increasing over the past decade. Methods used for the detection of pathogenic (disease-causing) vibrios are tedious, expensive and time consuming. Working in collaboration with the USDA-ARS, we developed a simple and rapid procedure known as the colony overlay procedure for peptidases (COPP assay), which is a test to identify total vibrios in oysters and seawater. However, it is not known whether total vibrios can be used as an indicator of the presence of pathogenic vibrios. Regulatory agencies and industry currently use comparable testing of fecal coliform bacteria as an indicator of fecal pollution, so the use of the COPP assay might serve a similar role as an indicator of pathogenic vibrios. The proposed project will compare the COPP assay with more complicated DNA-based methods. Specifically, we will evaluate the distribution of total vibrios (COPP assay) and pathogenic vibrios (DNA-assays) in oyster and seawater samples collected from the Delaware Inland Bays, Delaware and the Chesapeake Bay, Maryland to determine if the simple COPP assay results might relate to the levels of pathogenic Vibrio species. We will also attempt to validate the use of the COPP assay as a practical, rapid, and cost-effective alternative to currently used methods. We will transfer the results of this research and the COPP assay to commercial growers and state resource manager through training and development of outreach materials. Results of this study will contribute to the development of a user friendly testing method for Vibrio presence, enhance the ability of regulatory laboratories to monitor the safety of more samples at less cost, and ultimately reduce illnesses causedby Vibrio-contaminated shellfish. The unique combination of multi-institutional research and outreach activities will also enhance the research capacity of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and Delaware State University in food and agricultural sciences. This project will also benefit a cadre of undergraduate and graduate students who will learn valuable new techniques for assessing bacterial contamination of shellfish and their environment. </p>