Ecology of vibrios in the Oliveri-Tindari Lagoon (Messina), two-year study

A two-year ecological study in the Oliveri-Tindari (Messina) brackish water ponds evaluated the quantitative and qualitative distribution of Vibrio species in relation to the physico-chemical conditions of the ponds. The evaluation of 204 samples shows a general relationship between the halophilic vibrios and water temperature. In particular this relationship is stronger for the Vibrio fraction able to grow at 37-degrees-C, i. e., those species related to human infections. On the other hand, the halophilic vibrios show no relation with the index of fecal contamination. The ecology of V. parahaemolyticus is discussed in relation to the salinity of Marinello pond. The distribution of V. cholerae non O1, isolated from all ponds, shows that this microorganism can be considered as autochthonous in coastal environments.