A review of conventional and molecular methods was performed alongside practical work to select methods for practical trials were conducted. The review identified that current molecular detection and enumeration methods for vibrios have not been subject to any proper validation procedures and it is therefore not possible to formally determine how they compare with regard to sensitivity, specificity, etc. The review was distributed to partners and will be posted on the website for other members of SEAFOODplus. From the review and preliminary practical work partners have decided on the use of target sequences in the appropriate genome regions for V. parahaemolyticus, V. vulnificus, and V. cholorae. Further, appropriate primers and PCR methodologies have been selected for comparison with conventional methods. Of major significance is the finding from this initial work that gene sequences selected in USA to detect pathogenic V. parahaemolyticus were not appropriate for European strains and resulted in false positives.
