Vibrio vulnificus in Denmark

6. Concluding remarks

V. vulnificus is widely distributed in Danish marine environments including coastal water, sediment, wild fish, and shellfish. Low concentrations of V. vulnificus were recorded in Denmark and growth was particularly favored when water temperatures exceed 20°C for several weeks during warm summers. In this period health authorities should be aware of wound infections associated with V. vulnificus. V. vulnificus was occasionally isolated from raw, frozen seafood imported from South East Asia and in Danish blue mussels but do not constitute a hazard to public health in Denmark providing correct handling and cooking. V. vulnificus presents a serious economic problem to the Danish eel farmers wanting to use brackish water and warrant for both therapeutic and prophylactic measures. Research is needed to understand the ecology of V. vulnificus in eel farms and to develop a vaccine against eel-pathogenic V. vulnificus strains.