UNVEILING NON-CHOLERIC VIBRIO SPECIES IN CRUSTACEANS AND AQUATIC SNAILS: A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY IN THE SOUTH AND SOUTHEASTERN ROMANIA'S HYDROGRAPHIC SYSTEM

This study investigated the prevalence of non-choleric Vibrio bacteria in aquatic crustaceans and snails across south and southeast Romania, from the Danube Delta to the Black Sea coastline. Spanning 1997 to 2019, 11,916 crustacean and 4,844 snail samples underwent bacteriological analysis. Among crustaceans, 194 non-choleric Vibrio strains were isolated (collecting frequency: 1.532), including V. alginolyticus (74 strains), V. parahaemolyticus (59 strains), V. vulnificus (47 strains), V. mimicus (9 strains) and V. furnissii (8 strains). Snails yielded 31 strains (harvesting frequency: 0.64), primarily V. alginolyticus (14 strains) and V. parahaemolyticus (16 strains), with one V. vulnificus strain. Occurrences were higher in the Danube Delta and surroundings, particularly in marine environments. Notably, a correlation suggested higher trophic-level species had more non-choleric vibrios. Understanding these dynamics is vital for ecosystem and public health. Importantly, this research highlights the potential for pharmaceutical applications, emphasizing the significance of investigating non-choleric Vibrio species in crustaceans and snails in the pharmaceutical industry.