Vibrio species are indigenous to the marine and estuarine environments around the world and are the leading cause of water- and seafood-borne illnesses due to conditions favoring the transmission and growth of the species. Horizontal gene transfer, recombination, and mutation enable Vibrio spp. to adapt rapidly to environmental challenges from biotic and abiotic parameters, including temperature, salinity, and nutrient status of the coastal waters. This surveillance study provides evidence of Vibrio cholerae emerging in the temperate estuaries of Canada, thereby redefining the diversity and dynamics of its coastal Vibrio population. The presence of the pathogenic context in Vibrio parahaemolyticus was also detected with an increasing trend during the study period.IMPORTANCE Proliferation and abundance of the harmful biotypes of Vibrio spp. in the estuaries of Canada indicate the possibility of producing contaminated seafood for human consumption. The findings of this surveillance study may lead to awareness which may help efforts to reduce the occurrence of illnesses or outbreaks caused by Vibrio spp. in seafood.
Keywords: Canada; Vibrio species; seafood safety; surveillance.
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