Bacterium
Vibrio parahaemolyticus
Salt-loving seafood gastroenteritis vibrio
VIB-ree-oh pah-ruh-hee-moh-LIT-ih-kus
High-yield clue
Halophilic curved rod causing watery diarrhea after raw seafood, with the Kanagawa phenomenon (TDH hemolysin) as a virulence clue.
Overview
A curved Gram-negative marine rod that is a leading study example of seafood-associated gastroenteritis, especially from raw or undercooked shellfish.
Classification
- Gram-negative
- Curved rod
- Vibrionaceae
- Facultative anaerobe
- Halophilic
Lab & identification clues
- Oxidase positive vocabulary
- Green colonies on TCBS (sucrose non-fermenter)
- Kanagawa phenomenon / TDH hemolysin concept
- Requires salt for growth vocabulary
Associations
- Raw or undercooked shellfish transmission vocabulary
- Warm coastal water exposure association
- Self-limited gastroenteritis presentation vocabulary
Commonly confused with
- Vibrio vulnificus
- Vibrio cholerae
Frequently asked questions
What is Vibrio parahaemolyticus?
A curved Gram-negative marine rod that is a leading study example of seafood-associated gastroenteritis, especially from raw or undercooked shellfish.
What is the Gram stain of Vibrio parahaemolyticus?
Vibrio parahaemolyticus is Gram negative.
What are the lab clues for Vibrio parahaemolyticus?
Lab clues for Vibrio parahaemolyticus include Oxidase positive vocabulary, Green colonies on TCBS (sucrose non-fermenter), Kanagawa phenomenon / TDH hemolysin concept, and Requires salt for growth vocabulary.
What is Vibrio parahaemolyticus commonly confused with?
Vibrio parahaemolyticus is commonly confused with Vibrio vulnificus and Vibrio cholerae.
Original student-study summary. Sources checked: OpenStax Microbiology 2e, NCBI Bookshelf Medical Microbiology, and CDC topic pages where applicable; reviewed 2026-06. Educational only; no diagnosis, treatment, dosing, or specimen-handling guidance.