Primers and DNA probes designed for use in the specific detection of the paramyxean parasites Marteilia sydneyi and Marteilia refringens were tested for their potential to cross-react with closely related species in Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and in situ hybridization. PCR primers and a DNA pro...

Marteilia refringens is a major pathogen of the European flat oyster, Ostrea edulis Linnaeus. Since its description, the life-cycle of this protozoan parasite has eluded discovery. Attempts to infect oysters experimentally have been unsuccessful and led to the hypothesis of a complex life-cycle invo...

Effective methods of traceability are urgently required for use in research as well as in different types of aquaculture operations and to control trade in aquatic animals and products. In regard to the marking of fish, many different tagging methods have been described and the method to be used dep...

Since its first description, the paramyxean parasite Marteilia refringens has been recognized as a significant pathogen of bivalve mollusks. The existence of a complex life cycle was postulated by many authors. Here we report the development of DNA-based detection assays as powerful tools to elucida...

The protozoan parasite Perkinsus atlanticus (Azevedo, 1989) causes severe losses among cultured clams, Ruditapes decussatus. This parasite is routinely diagnosed by means of histology or incubation of gills in fluid thioglycollate medium. However, in order to develop models of experimental reproduct...

The development of molecular diagnostic assays with increased sensitivity compared with conventional histological techniques is highly desirable for effective management of bonamiosis in cultured oyster stocks and wild populations. A real-time TaqMan PCR assay was developed for the specific detectio...

One of limiting factors in shrimp culture is the mortality at the larval stage. Often bacterial diseases are suspected to be the origin of this damage. This work concerns the study of relations between microorganisms (bacteria and Vibrio) and peneids. Observations induced a new approach to bacteriol...

Microcell-type parasites of oysters are associated with a complex of diseases in different oyster species around the world. The etiological agents are protists of very small size that are very difficult to characterize taxonomically. Associated lesions may vary according to the host species, and the...