Antibiotic Resistance and Characteristics of Isolated from Seafood Distributed in South Korea from 2021 to 2022.

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and virulence characteristics of () isolated from olive flounder () and rockfish () sashimi samples sold in South Korea from 2021 to 2022. A total of 500 fish samples were analyzed, from which 17 isolates were obtained. Antibiotic susceptibility testing using the minimum inhibitory concentration method revealed that 58.8% (10/17) of the isolates exhibited resistance to ampicillin, indicating the potential for AMR transmission in seafood-associated pathogens. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and a polymerase chain reaction detected the presence of and virulence genes in all isolates, suggesting their pathogenic potential. Although the overall isolation rate of was low, the presence of virulence and AMR genes indicates public health relevance associated with raw seafood consumption. The increasing consumer demand for raw fish, coupled with environmental changes such as rising ocean temperatures, underscores the necessity of continuous surveillance to prevent foodborne outbreaks. These findings emphasize the need for targeted AMR monitoring and further research to mitigate the dissemination of resistant strains and enhance seafood safety.