engleski

Molecular survey of diseases in molluscs cultivated along the eastern Adriatic coast

Croatian mollusc industry is based on cultivation of European flat oyster (Ostrea edulis) and Mediterranean mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis). Listed molluscs diseases may have very serious influence on this aquaculture activity. That is the reason why the National surveyance programme was put in place in 2000. During last ten years samples of oysters and mussels were taken regularly in all production area with aim to determine their health status with regard to listed parasites Bonamia ostreae and Marteilia refringens. Since the first record of Marteilia sp. in mussels in 2000. with a prevalence of 5%, the parasite is now enzootic with varying prevalence among 0 to 10% in different production areas. Parasite prevalence is independent of cultivation density. Although both species are cultivated in the same area oysters remains free of both parasites B. ostrea and M. refringens. In the diagnostic work cytological and histological methods were compared with molecular techniques and resulted with almost identical results. Infection of mussels by Marteilia spp. was confirmed by PCR. (ITS-1) region from Marteilia spp. parasitizing Mediterranean mussels was characterized by RFLP with endonuclease HhIal and sequenced. Phylogenetic affinity of the sequences was determined.

european oyster; mussel; health; Marteilia refrigens

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