Vibrio alginolyticus

Vibrio alginolyticus is a Gram-negative marine bacterium. It is medically important since it causes otitis and wound infection. It is also present in the bodies of animals such as pufferfish, where it is responsible for the production of the potent neurotoxin, tetrodotoxin.

V.alginolyticus was first identified as a pathogen of humans in 1973. It occasionally causes eye, ear and wound infections. V. alginolyticus is a highly salt-tolerant species and can grow in salt concentrations of 10%. Most clinical isolates come from superinfected wounds that become contaminated at the beach. Tetracycline usually results in cure. V. alginolyticus is rare cause of bacteremia in immunocompromised hosts.