Pilot-Scale Depuration Trial Data

We conducted several depuration trials to reduce Vibrio parahaemolyticus in three species of oyster: Crassostrea gigas, C. sikamea, and C. virginica. We also compared depuration of non-pathogenic and pathogenic isolates of V. parahaemolyticus. Depuration trials were conducted at 11 or 13 °C for 5-7 days, with oysters sampled daily to evaluate V. parahaemolyticus concentrations. Oysters were homogenized and the homogenate cultured to evaluate V. parahaemolyticus concentrations. Reductions in V. parahaemolyticus were determined by plating homogenized oyster tissue on TCBS agar, a selective media for Vibrio.

Depuration significantly reduced the concentrations of V. parahaemolyticus in all three species of oyster tested, and non-pathogenic and pathogenic V. parahaemolyticus isolates were reduced at an equivalent rate, allowing for their use in future depuration validation studies.