title: Suspension of oysters reduces the populations of Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio vulnificus.
abstract: Vibrio parahaemolyticus (Vp) and Vibrio vulnificus (Vv) are associated with the consumption of raw oysters and cause illnesses ranging from simple gastroenteritis to life-threatening septicaemia. These halophilic bacteria are frequently found in marine and estuarine systems, accumulating within the tissues of a number of aquatic organisms and passing on to humans after consumption, through contaminated water, or via open wounds. As benthic organisms capable of filtering 40 gallons of water per hour, sediment is an important source of potentially pathogenic vibrios in oysters destined for raw consumption. This research used off-bottom oyster culture to reduce vibrio concentrations in oysters. Colony hybridization was used to enumerate Vp and Vv in bottom and suspended oysters. Vv and Vp concentrations were generally lower in oysters suspended off-bottom, and suspension decreased vibrio loads in oysters by an average of 13%. Suspension of oysters reduced vibrio concentrations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study found that oyster suspension significantly reduced some populations of potentially pathogenic vibrios. These results indicate that oyster suspension could be a viable approach for preharvest treatment to reduce illness in consumers of raw oysters.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA.
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Cole
authors.affiliation: Louisiana Sea Grant College Program, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Supan
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ramirez
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA.
authors.forename: C N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D010125:Ostreidae / Q000382:microbiology*; D012758:Shellfish / Q000382:microbiology*; D014735:Vibrio Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014736:Vibrio parahaemolyticus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D041261:Vibrio vulnificus / Q000302:isolation & purification*
keywords: Crassostrea virginica; Vibrio; benthic; oyster; suspension