Vibrio

Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Vibrio is a genus of Gram-negative bacteria possessing a curved rod shape.Typically found in saltwater, Vibrio are facultative anaerobes that test positive for oxidase and do not form spores.All members of the genus are motile and have polar flagella with sheaths. Recent phylogenies have been constructed based on a suite of genes (multi-locus sequence analysis).Several species of Vibrio include clinically important human pathogens. Most disease causing strains are associated with gastroenteritis but can also infect open wounds and cause septicemia. It can be carried by numerous sea living animals, such as crabs or prawns, and has been known to cause fatal infections in humans during exposure. Pathogenic Vibrio include V. cholerae (the causative agent of cholera), V. parahaemolyticus, and V. vulnificus. Vibrio cholerae is generally transmitted via contaminated water.