Occurrence of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in selected marine invertebrates, sediment, and seawater around Alexandria, Egypt.

Samples of seawater, sediment, and the following invertebrates were collected from the Mediterranean Sea in the neighborhood of Alexandria, Egypt: sea urchins (Echinus spp.), clams (Tapes spp.), and wedge shells (Donax trunculus). A total of 165 samples were collected from November 1979 to July 1980. Average counts (per 100 mL or 100 g) of Vibrio parahaemolyticus content were as follows: seawater, 36; sea urchins, 349; sediment, 436; wedge shells, 534; clams, 1872. Samples collected in the summer months contained higher levels of V. parahaemolyticus than winter samples.