Abstract: ObjectiveTo investigate the distribution of pathogenic Vibrio in diarrhea patients, foods and water samples from September 2006 to October 2007 in Nanhui district of Shanghai. MethodsThe anal swabs of all the patients seeking medical care, water and food samples were taken in the surveillance sites (Ni Cheng and Hang Tou), After the enrichment for these samples, the isolation and identification of bacteria were conducted according to the relative standards. ResultsA total of 105 strains of 8 pathogenic Vibrio species were detected from 1870 anal swabs, water and food samples with the overall positive rate of 5.61%. IVibrio parahaemolyticus/I and Vibrio metschnikovi were the major strains detected, which accounted for 31.42% and 25.71% respectively. Pathogenic Vibrio in anal swabs, food and water samples was highly detectable from July to October. The detection rate of pathogenic Vibrio in anal swabs was 3.82%, the strains of Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio fluvialis accounted for 55.26% and 26.32% respectively. The detection rate of pathogenic Vibrio in water samples was 7.95%, the strains of Aeromonas, Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio metschnikovi accounted for 34.62%, 26.92% and 23.08%, respectively. The detection rate of pathogenic IVibrio/I in food samples was 7.48%， the strains of Vibrio metschnikovi accounted for 51.22%, ConclusionPathogenic Vibrios were detected in patients anal swabs, water and food samples, and the detection varied by seasons. Enhancing the surveillance of pathogenic Vibrios and improving food hygiene were essential to decrease the incidence of pathogenic Vibrio infection.