The growth responses of Vibrio parahamolyticus to pH, NaCl concentration and temperature changes were studied using serotype O3: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 degrees C, 20 degrees C and 15 degrees C, pH 8, 7 and 5.8, and 1%, 3% and 7%, respectively. The bacteria grew most rapidly at 25 degrees 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 NaCl concentration, pH and temperature within the range used in this study.