Pilot-Scale Depuration Trial Data

We conducted several depuration trials to reduce <i>Vibrio parahaemolyticus </i>in three species of oyster: <i>Crassostrea gigas</i>, <i>C. sikamea</i>, and <i>C. virginica</i>. We also compared depuration of non-pathogenic and pathogenic isolates of <i>V. parahaemolyticus.</i> Depuration trials were conducted at 11 or 13 °C for 5-7 days, with oysters sampled daily to evaluate <i>V. parahaemolyticus</i> concentrations. Oysters were homogenized and the homogenate cultured to evaluate <i>V. parahaemolyticus </i>concentrations. Reductions in <i>V. parahaemolyticus</i> were determined by plating homogenized oyster tissue on TCBS agar, a selective media for <i>Vibrio</i>.Depuration significantly reduced the concentrations of <i>V. parahaemolyticus</i> in all three species of oyster tested, and non-pathogenic and pathogenic <i>V. parahaemolyticus</i> isolates were reduced at an equivalent rate, allowing for their use in future depuration validation studies.