Carriage of Vibrio species by shrimps harvested from the coastal waters of South West Cameroon.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of Vibrio spp in unprocessed shrimps and their susceptibility to antibiotics.

DESIGN: A prospective study of Vibrio spp associated with shrimps harvested from the coastal waters of South West Cameroon.

SETTING: A laboratory based study at the Department of Life Sciences, University of Buea. Two hundred and thirty six shrimps harvested from the coastal towns of Limbe and Tiko, Cameroon, were examined for the prevalence of Vibrio spp using standard microbiologic procedures. The antibiotic sensitivity of isolates was determined using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion technique.

RESULTS: Of the 236 shrimps examined, 73 (30.9%) were contaminated with Vibrio spp. Further, a total of 125 Vibrio strains were isolated from the contaminated shrimps. Of this number, 33 (26.4%) were V. cholerae, 55 (44%) V. parahaemolyticus, 34 (27.2%) V. alginolyticus and three (2.4%) V. vulnificus. Antibiotic susceptibility generally ranged from 68.8% for polymyxin B to 99.2% for gentamycin. Multiple resistant strains were noted, especially with V. parahaemolyticus and V. alginolyticus

CONCLUSION: Shrimps maintain a reservoir of potential Vibrio spp in the coastal area of South West Cameroon. This finding is of epidemiologic and clinical significance.