ANTIMICROBIAL POTENTIAL OF MINERAL ACIDIFIER AGAINST PATHOGENIC Vibrio parahaemolyticus

Abstract

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a gram-negative, halophilic, facultative anaerobic bacterium that poses a serious threat to vaname shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) aquaculture and human food safety. The increasing prevalence of this pathogen in coastal and brackish water environments necessitates the development of effective and safe antibacterial alternatives to conventional antibiotics. This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial potential of Intra AquaAcid Mineral, a mineral acidifier product, against V. parahaemolyticus through inhibition zone testing and Total Vibrio Count (TVC) assessment. The antibacterial activity was tested using the agar disc diffusion method on Mueller Hinton Agar (MHA), with seven treatment groups consisting of one negative control and six concentrations of mineral acidifier diluted in NaCl solution (50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, and 100%), each with three replications arranged in a Completely Randomized Design. Inhibition zones were measured using a digital caliper, and culture water testing was performed at 0, 6, 12, and 24 hours using TCBS agar. Results showed that all tested concentrations produced inhibition zones ranging from 34.50 mm to 44.50 mm, classified as very strong antibacterial activity according to Davis and Stout (1971) criteria (>20 mm). The largest inhibition zone was observed at 100% concentration (44.50 mm). TVC results demonstrated complete inhibition of V. parahaemolyticus in treated culture water, while control groups showed detectable Vibrio counts throughout the observation period. These findings indicate that Intra AquaAcid Mineral exhibits strong dose-dependent antibacterial activity and holds significant potential as an alternative antibacterial agent in shrimp aquaculture systems.