A Status Assessment of Perkinsiosis, Bonamiosis, and Mateiliosis in Commercial Marine Bivalves from Southern Brazil

Abstract

The protozoans Perkinsus marinus, Perkinsus olseni, Bonamia ostreae, Bonamia exitiosa, and Marteilia refringens are responsible for some of the most detrimental diseases in the production of cultivated shellfish worldwide and are classified as notifiable diseases by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). This study examined the general health status of wild and cultured bivalves from southern Brazil and included diagnostic tests for the presence of Perkinsus sp., Bonamia sp., and Marteilia sp. Cultured bivalves included the mangrove oyster Crassostrea gasar (syn. Crassostrea brasiliana), the brown mussel Perna perna, the lionÕs paw scallop Nodipecten nodosus, and wing pearl oyster Pteria hirundo. The mangrove oyster Crassostrea rhizophorae and the carib pointed venus clam Anomalocardia brasiliana (syn. Anomalocardia flexuosa) were collected from wild populations. A variety of parasitic or commensal organisms were detected by histology including Ancistrocoma-like and Spenophrya-like organisms; Bucephalus genus, Nematopsis sp., Steinhausia sp., and Tylocephalum sp.; unidentified trematode; unknown protozoan and metazoans; and an amoeba parasite. Hemocytic infiltration was most commonly associated with parasitized animals. Histological, culture and molecular diagnostic tests did not find any evidence of the presence of OIE-listed pathogens or related species in this study. Although the current survey did not identify any pathogens or diseases of concern, it provides baseline health assessment data for these species against which any future disease developments or significant changes in population health can be compared. These data are also valuable with respect to the development and implementation of public policies related to aquatic animal health.

Two epizootic Perkinsus spp. events in commercial oyster farms at Santa Catarina, Brazil

“…Also, this is the first report of P. beihaiensis in the State of Santa Catarina, which was also found in the north region of the State (Balneário Barra do Sul), infecting C. gasar . São Francisco do Sul and Balneário Barra do Sul (the places where Perkinsus has now been detected) were not included in the previous pathology studies developed by Sabry et al (), Sabry et al (), da Silva et al (), da Silva et al () and Sühnel et al ().…”

“…Previous pathological surveys in the South Brasil, State of Santa Catarina, searching for the presence of perkinsosis in oyster presented negative results (Sabry, Silva, Vasconcelos, Pontinha, & Magalhães, , da Silva, Magalhães, & Barracco, and Sühnel et al, ).…”

Partial 18S rRNA sequences of apicomplexan parasite ‘X’ (APX), associated with flat oysters Ostrea chilensis in New Zealand

“…By contrast, the ubiquitous coccidian Nematopsis sp. is common in bivalves worldwide (Tuntiwaranuruk et al 2004, Uddin et al 2011, Ceuta & Boehs 2012, Sühnel et al 2016 but is rarely reported to cause any tissue reaction (Azevedo & Cachola 1992, Azevedo & Matos 1999, unlike apicomplexan 'X' (APX) re ported in this paper which can severely damage its host (Hine 2002).…”

Research Article Molecular detection of the pathogenic protist <i>Perkinsus</i> <i>marinus</i> in farmed native and introduced oysters (<i>Crassostrea</i> spp.) in southern Brazil

“…Commercial bivalve mollusk farming is a recent activity in Brazil, dating from the late 80s, with Santa Catarina being responsible for more than 95% of the total production (EPAGRI, 2014). Oyster farming is dominated by culture of the Japanese oyster Crassosstrea gigas, followed by other species including mangrove oysters C. rhizophorae and C. gasar (EPAGRI, 2014 andSuhnel et al, 2016). The first introduction of C. gigas seeds in Santa Catarina occurred in 1987 for experimental purposes and until today C. gigas farming is being conducted successfully.…”

“…This genus includes six species, but only two, P. marinus and P. olseni, are associated with mass mortalities worldwide; both require notification to the World Organization for Animal Health (Villalba et al, 2004, OIE, 2016. Detection of Perkinsus is normally conducted by cultivation in Fluid thioglycollate culture, followed by examination of the hypnospore with a light microscope (Suhnel et al, 2016). However, it is not possible to differentiate between Perkinsus species based on morphological analyses alone.…”