A number of bivalve species worldwide, including the Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas, have been affected by mass mortality events associated with herpesviruses, resulting in significant losses. A particular herpesvirus was purified from naturally infected larval Pacific oysters, and its genome was completely sequenced. This virus has been classified as Ostreid herpesvirus 1 (OsHV-1) within the family Malacoherpesviridae. Since 2008, mass mortality outbreaks among C. gigas in Europe have been related to the detection of a variant of OsHV-1 called Var. Additional data are necessary to better describe mortality events in relation to environmental-parameter fluctuations and OsHV-1 detection. For this purpose, a single batch of Pacific oyster spat was deployed in 4 different locations in the Marennes-Oleron area (France): an oyster pond ("claire"), a shellfish nursery, and two locations in the field. Mortality rates were recorded based on regular observation, and samples were collected to search for and quantify OsHV-1 DNA by real-time PCR. Although similar massive mortality rates were reported at the 4 sites, mortality was detected earlier in the pond and in the nursery than at both field sites. This difference may be related to earlier increases in water temperature. Mass mortality was observed among oysters a few days after increases in the number of PCR-positive oysters and viral-DNA amounts were recorded. An initial increment in the number of PCR-positive oysters was reported at both field sites during the survey in the absence of significant mortality. During this period, the water temperature was below 16°C. Since the first report by Farley et al. (1), herpesviruses have been associated worldwide with mortality events resulting in significant losses in a number of bivalve species, including the Pacific cupped oyster, Crassostrea gigas, in both hatcheries/nurseries and the natural environment (2-11). A herpesvirus was purified from naturally infected larval Pacific cupped oysters collected in 1995 in a French commercial hatchery (12). Its genome was completely sequenced (13), and the virus was classified as Ostreid herpesvirus 1 (OsHV-1) within the family Malacoherpesviridae (14, 15). Moreover, since 2008, mass mortality outbreaks among Pacific cupped oysters have been reported in Europe, including France, Ireland, the Channel Islands, and the United Kingdom (16-23), in relation to the detection of a particular genotype of OsHV-1 called Var (24).A protocol based on the intramuscular injection of 0.22-mfiltered tissue homogenates prepared from naturally infected spat was developed (25). The results of experimental trials showed that mortality was induced after the injection. Furthermore, analysis of injected oyster spat revealed large amounts of OsHV-1 DNA by real-time quantitative PCR. In this context, OsHV-1 was inferred to be the causative agent of the mortality reported in the study (25). In addition to transmitting OsHV-1 infection by intramuscular inoculation, waterborne transmission to healthy oyster sp...

The main objectives of this investigation were to test the effects of (i) the presence of periphyton substrates, (ii) rearing density and (iii) supplemental feeding with dry feed on the growth and production of golden mullet (Liza aurata) juveniles. Twenty-six 1 m 2-cages were installed in a French marine pond from April till June 2008. Mullets were stocked in cages with or without substrate at a density of 0, 20, 40 or 60 individuals per cage. Each treatment was carried out in triplicate. In addition, 20 fish were put in three tanks and fed ad libitum with dry feed. The results showed that (i) although mullets were seen to graze on periphyton substrates, their presence did not affect mullet growth and production. In future studies, meshed substrates could be attached on hard structures to improve the efficiency of mullet grazing; (ii) individual growth was higher at low density due to a lower competition for space and food. Production increased with rearing density reflecting that food availability was not limiting in control cages; (iii) growth and net yield of mullets were lower in fed tanks than in natural ponds where food seemed to be more appropriate for wild mullet juveniles and where stress factors were lower. Finally, in contrast to the individual growth rate, the net fish yield in this experiment was greater than that recorded in other extensive and semi-intensive systems. It was equivalent to yields observed in other periphyton-based systems. Periphyton developed on the meshed walls of cages probably increased the natural productivity of the pond. As part of sustainable aquaculture development, the effluents of intensive farms could be exploited to produce periphyton on inflexible substrates and to rear mullet adults, which are more herbivorous than juveniles. This type of integrated system could be developed with other mullet species, such as Chelon labrosus or Mugil cephalus, whose growth rates are higher than L. aurata. Mullet production could be exploited by the sale of fillets and dried roe.