Specificity of detection: Specificity was assessed by carrying out assays with purified DNA from 2 non target bacterial species, including Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC6538) and Salmonella enteritidis (ATCC13076). Genomic DNA was extracted from pure cultures of each bacteria. The real-time PCR reaction system and reaction conditions were the same as described above.• Sensitivity of detection: The real-time PCR assay established in this study should have high sensitivity, when the sample concentration of the Vibrio parahaemolyticus was low, they could also be accurately detected.To determine the sensitivity of the PCR assay for pure cultures, V. parahaemolyticus cultures were 10- fold serially diluted to the range from 107 to 101 CFU/mL and estimated by plate-counting method. A sample of each diluted specimen was added to 4 mL nutrient broth and cultured at 37°C for 12 h. Subsequently, 1 mL aliquot of the culture and each serial dilution were used to prepare DNA template by DNA extraction kit as described above.To determine the minimum detection level of purified V. parahaemolyticus DNA, serial dilutions of genomic DNA (ranging from 1 pg to 100 ng) from V. parahaemolyticus were prepared. Aliquots of each 10- fold serial dilution were used as templates for real-time PCR detection.