Growth kinetics of Vibrio parahaemolyticus O3:K6 under varying conditions of pH, NaCl concentration and temperature.

The growth responses of Vibrio parahamolyticus to pH, NaCl concentration and temperature changes were studied using serotype 03 : K6 and other strains. Growth curves were obtained for 27 different sets of conditions, comprised of three levels of NaCl concentration, pH and temperature. The temperature, pH and NaCl concentrations most favorable for growth were in the order of 25°C, 20°C and 15°C, pH 8, 7 and 5.8, and 1%, 3% and 7%, respectively. The bacteria grew most rapidly at 25°C, at a pH of 7 or 8 in the presence of 1% or 3% NaCl, with the population (initial, ca. 2.5 log CFU/mL) reaching a level log 7 CFU/mL at 12 h. A growth predictive model using the Gompertz equation was generated from the experimental data for any combination of NaCI concentration, pH and temperature within the range used in this study.