Offshore suspension relaying to reduce levels of Vibrio vulnificus in oysters (Crassostrea virginica).
Oysters naturally contaminated with 10(3) to 10(4) most probable numbers (MPN) of Vibrio vulnificus per g were relayed to offshore waters (salinity, 30 to 34 ppt), where they were suspended in racks at a depth of 7.6 m. V. vulnificus counts in oysters were reduced to < 10 MPN/g within 7 to 17 days in five of the six studies. At the end of the studies (17 to 49 days), V. vulnificus levels were reduced further and ranged from a mean of 0.23 to 2.6 MPN/g. Oyster mortalities during relaying were < 6%. The reduction of V. vulnificus in relayed oysters is associated with exposure to high-salinity environments essentially devoid of V. vulnificus. Offshore suspension relaying may be a method that industry can employ to reduce V. vulnificus levels in raw Gulf Coast oysters.
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Gulf Coast Seafood Laboratory, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Dauphin Island, Alabama 36528, USA. MLM@fdacf.ssw.dhhs.gov
DePaola
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D000064:Acclimatization; D000818:Animals; D017756:Aquaculture / Q000379:methods*; D010125:Ostreidae / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000502:physiology; D012621:Seasons; D012623:Seawater; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D014733:Vibrio / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification
D012965:Sodium Chloride