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BACKGROUND: Infections from Vibrio bacteria that cause vibriosis have been reportable in Florida since 1981. Since becoming a nationally reportable disease in 2007, Florida has consistently reported between 14% and 19% of the total number of cases in the United States. The warm-briny water surrounding Florida and the aquaculture industry coupled with our high annual case count makes it important to analyze the epidemiology of our cases to better assess exposures and risk factors to aid in prevention efforts and public health messaging.
METHODS: Reported cases of vibriosis in Florida from 2004 through 2013 were extracted from Florida’s reportable disease database, Merlin. Merlin tracks information regarding demographics and related risk factors for vibriosis cases. Reported cases were analyzed for the identified causative species, method of exposure, and demographic-related associations.
RESULTS: A total of 1,235 vibriosis cases were reported in Florida during the timeframe, of which 97% had a species identified. The species that caused the majority of cases were V. alginolyticus (28%), V. parahaemolyticus (26%), and V. vulnificus (24%). The mortality rate was highest for V. vulnificus cases with 7.1. % out of all cases. The majority of the cases were reported as white, non-Hispanic, males. Age ranges that accounted for the majority of cases were 35-44 (13%), 45-54 (15%), 55-64 (15%) and 65-74 (15%). Individuals 19 years of age and younger were more likely to acquire an infection of V. alginolyticus (59%). Individuals over the age of 19 were most likely to be infected with V. vulnificus (28%) or V. parahaemolyticus (27%). Wounds with exposure to seawater or marine wildlife accounted for 38% of the reported infections. Exposure to shellfish and other seafood accounted for 24% of reported cases.
CONCLUSIONS: Infections due to specific Vibrio species in Florida vary with age group and demographics. Wounds with documented exposures account for over a third of reported cases therefore the department should focus prevention efforts and public health messaging to this type of exposure. Exposure to shellfish and other seafood still represents a significant source of infection. Therefore, continued messaging on the hazards of consuming raw or undercooked shellfish will be necessary to prevent further illness. To further characterize vibriosis infections, additional analysis of risk factors, including immune status of cases, should be performed to identify additional high risk groups in Florida.