Isolation of cryptic plasmid deoxyribonucleic acid from Kanagawa-positive strains of Vibrio parahaemolyticus.

Twelve strains of Vibrio parahaemolyticus was examined for plasmid deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) by dye-buoyant gradient centrifugation. Four Kanagawa-positive strains, all isolated from the same outbreak of gastroenteritis, contained multiple plasmid species of cryptic function. However, three Kanagawa-negative strains and five Kanagawa-positive strains were not found to contain demonstrable plasmid DNA. R-plasmids were successfully transferred from Escherichia coli to V. parahaemolyticus.