Abstract:Vibrio parahaemolyticus, a gram-negative halophilic bacterium, first identified as a cause of food-borne illness in Japan in 1950, is widely disseminated in estuarine, marine, and coastal environments throughout the world. As one of major pathogens, V. parahaemolyticus can cause bacterial food poisoning and threaten the public health. V. parahaemolyticus isolates are multiple diverse genotype and serotypes faster adapting to the versatile environment. Molecular genetic analysis showed that the genetic diversity may be acquired as a result of gene recombination or horizontal gene transfer. This paper reviewed the finding, distribution, epidemiological characteristics and mutation molecular epidemiological characteristics of V. parahaemolyticus, particularly the global dissemination of pandemic serovar O3:K6 clone, so as to provide evidences for the traceability of the isolates.