Pilot-scale Assessment of a Water Depuration Process for Vibrio in Gulf Coast Oysters
Daniel Cheney and Ralph Elston, Pacific Shellfish Institute
R/F-155
Depuration has a long history as a post-harvest treatment process for reducing microbial contamination in shellfish. However, as applied to date, this approach to purging shellfish of bacterial and viral contamination has been ineffective in reducing levels of Vibrio bacteria. Vibrio bacteria can cause a number of diseases, including cholera. To meet a priority of the federally funded Gulf Oyster Industry Program, this study will develop and evaluate an electrolyzed oxidizing (EO) water depuration process to increase the quality, shelf life and safety of raw oysters for consumption. Study objectives include determining the optimal salinity, temperature and time for an EO water depuration process to reduce V. vulnificus and V. parahaemolytius contamination in Gulf Coast oysters.
For more information, please contact Daniel Cheney, psi@u.washington.edu.