Seasonal variation of <i>Vibrio parahaemolyticus</i> (Sakazaki <i>et al.</i>) in Cochin Backwaters

Abstract

Seasonal study on the occurrence and distribution of <i>Vibrio parahaemolyticus</i> in water, sediment and plankton at 3 stations in Cochin Backwaters was made. At st 1, least disturbed by sewage outfall, salinity was found to be the major limiting factor for the distribution of <i>V. parahaemolyticus</i>. Seawater helped the survival of <i>V. parahaemolyticus</i> during the monsoon season at st 2. At st 3, highly disturbed by wastes from fishery industries, fluctuation of <i>V. parahaemolyticus</i> population was maximum. Monsoon rains played indirectly a major role on the distribution of <i>V. parahaemolyticus</i> in association with plankton through plankton blooms. The study shows that <i>V. parahaemolyticus</i> occurs throughout the year in Cochin Backwaters system.