Effectiveness of depuration of Pacific Oyster (Crassostrea gigas): removal of bioaccumulated Vibrio vulnificus by UV-treatment

The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a depuration system equipped with UV-irradiation to control Vibrio vulnificus infection such as septicemia (or sepsis) using alive oysters. After 6 h of bioaccumulation of V. vulnificus, Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas were found to be contaminated by > 8.0 log MPN/g of V. vulnificus cells. After 60 h of depuration, the V. vulnificus cell number significantly decreased to < 4.0 log MPN/g. The present depuration process meets the standard effectiveness in reducing V. vulnificus cells by > 3.52 log and < 30 MPN/g as recommended by the National Shellfish Sanitization Procedure Molluscan Shellfish Control guidelines. Furthermore, no significant changes in pH value and glycogen content indicate that the depuration process did not affect the freshness and quality of the oyster samples. The present study could help control any potential infection associated with the consumption of raw oysters without losing their quality.