Cross-transmission studies of Perkinsus karlssoni (Apicomplexa) from bay scallops Argopecten irradians to native Atlantic Canadian shellfish species

Abstract

Lateral proximal transmission was investigated whereby infected moribund bay scallops were maintained with uninfected individuals of other bivalve species in a recirculating artificial seawater system. There was no evidence to conclude that transmission of P. karlssoni had occurred over the 22 mo study period. Zoosporangial stages of P. karlssoni were observed in both the male and female gonads of the bay scallop, and the possibility of parasite release during spawning is discussed. -from Authors