Vibriosis

Vibriosis refers to infection caused by bacteria of the genus Vibrio, which are described as ubiquitous organisms found in a wide variety of aquatic and marine habitats ^[2]. The term in the provided sources is used for non-cholera Vibrio infections, while Vibrio cholerae is separately identified as a cause of cholera ^[2]. The sources indicate that around 12 of more than 100 described Vibrio species cause human infection ^[2].

The clinical spectrum ranges from mild, indolent illness to fulminant disease ^[1]. Non-cholera Vibrio infections are most commonly described as mild, self-limiting gastroenteritis, although V. vulnificus is noted as an opportunistic pathogen with high mortality that can cause wound infection progressing rapidly to septicaemia ^[2]. The sources also note severe presentations including necrotizing fasciitis among vibrio illnesses ^[1]. Source-backed detail on incubation period, symptom sequence, and other complications is not yet available ^[1][2].

The sources associate vibriosis with marine and aquatic environments and with exposure to seawater or contaminated seafood, especially raw or undercooked shellfish such as oysters ^[1][2]. In the United States, vibrio infections are reported to be increasing, but the same source states that they are underreported because of lack of clinical recognition and appropriate laboratory detection ^[1]. A broader review source also notes that the incidence of vibriosis is rising and suggests climate change may be contributing to the spread of Vibrio spp., although the snippet is truncated and provides no further detail ^[2]. Source-backed detail on seasonality, country-level burden, or specific outbreak series is not yet available ^[1][2].

Most illnesses are acquired through direct contact with the marine environment or through consumption of shellfish, especially oysters ^[1]. Another source specifies exposure to seawater or consumption of raw or undercooked contaminated seafood as the usual acquisition route for non-cholera Vibrio spp. ^[2]. The provided material also distinguishes cholera as being typically transmitted via contaminated water and person-to-person contact, but that transmission pattern is stated for cholera rather than for vibriosis as a whole ^[2].

The provided sources do not identify specific demographic risk groups for vibriosis beyond exposure-based risk linked to marine environments and seafood consumption ^[1][2]. The only organism-level exception noted is V. vulnificus, described as an opportunistic pathogen with high mortality that can cause rapidly progressive wound infection and septicaemia ^[2]. Source-backed detail on age, occupation, underlying conditions, or other host risk factors is not yet available ^[1][2].

The source material supports prevention primarily through exposure reduction: avoiding or limiting contact with marine water exposures and preventing consumption of raw or undercooked contaminated seafood, especially shellfish ^[1][2]. For cholera, the sources state that effective oral cholera vaccines are available and that outbreaks can be driven by contamination of drinking water or loss of safe water and sanitation, but these points are not presented as vibriosis-specific prevention measures ^[2]. Source-backed detail on specific public-health interventions for non-cholera vibriosis is not yet available ^[1][2].

From a surveillance perspective, vibriosis should be read as a potentially underdetected marine-associated bacterial infection rather than a single clinical syndrome ^[1][2]. The sources emphasize that underrecognition in clinical care and limitations in microbiology laboratory identification can lead to underreporting, and they mention rapid identification tests, new media, and molecular identification systems as newer laboratory aids ^[1]. Monitoring is therefore likely to depend on both exposure history and improved diagnostic capture, but source-backed detail on case definitions or reporting thresholds is not yet available ^[1][2].

1. 1 Janda JM et al. Vibriosis. Clin Lab Med. 2015 Jun. PMID: 26004642. doi: 10.1016/j.cll.2015.02.007. PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26004642/
2. 2 Baker-Austin C et al. Vibrio spp. infections. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2018 Jul 12. PMID: 30002421. doi: 10.1038/s41572-018-0005-8. PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30002421/
3. 3 Romanello M et al. The 2023 report of the Lancet Countdown on health and climate change: the imperative for a health-centred response in a world facing irreversible harms. Lancet. 2023 Dec 16. PMID: 37977174. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(23)01859-7. PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37977174/
4. 4 Vibriosis. Fish diseases and disorders. Volume 3: viral, bacterial and fungal infections. 2011. doi: 10.1079/9781845935542.0570. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1079/9781845935542.0570
5. 5 Vibriosis. Clinics in Laboratory Medicine. 2015. doi: 10.1016/j.cll.2015.02.007. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cll.2015.02.007
6. 6 Vibriosis. Diseases of Coral. 2015. doi: 10.1002/9781118828502.ch13. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118828502.ch13

ICD-10

ICD-11

Total cases

5K

Peak month

2025-08

Coverage

3 reporting countries · 2000-01-01 → 2026-06-20