Influence of abiotic environmental factors on the abundance and distribution of Vibrio species in coastal waters of Kerala, India

Quantification of Vibrio spp. and abiotic environmental factors on the proliferation and longevity of V. parahaemolyticus and V. cholerae was studied. Water samples were collected onboard CRV Sagar Purvi from Veli, Neendakara, Kochi, Calicut and Kasaragod along the Kerala coast for hydrological and microbiological parameters. Pearson correlation and regression analysis were done for evaluating the relationship between abiotic environmental factors and abundance of Vibrio spp. Hydrological and microbiological variations are greatly observed at nearshore transect of all stations. Significant correlation was observed between V. cholerae and nutrients and negative correlation with pH, dissolved oxygen and salinity. The population of V. parahaemolyticus showed an inverse correlation with dissolved oxygen. pH, salinity and nutrients and these factors were responsible for the incidence and abundance of Vibrio cholerae and Vibrio parahaemolyticus. The proliferation and survivality of V. parahaemolyticus in marine waters is independent to hydrological variables while that of V. cholerae is determined by certain abiotic factors.