title: Transmission of the haplosporidian parasite MSX Haplosporidium nelsoni to the eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica in an upweller system.
abstract: The haplosporidian oyster parasite MSX (Multinucleated Sphere X) Haplosporidium nelsoni was transmitted to eastern oysters Crassostrea virginica. Hatchery-raised, MSX-free juvenile oysters were placed in upweller tanks. Water to the tanks was filtered through a screen with 1 mm2 openings and originated from the water column overlaying naturally infected oysters beds (MSX prevalence 17 to 57%). MSX was diagnosed by histopathological analysis. MSX-disease (57% prevalence) with increased mortality (19%) was observed 11 wk after the beginning of the exposure and mortality of 80% after 16 wk. The study demonstrates transmission of MSX via water-borne infectious agents capable of passing through a 1 mm filter.
authors.affiliation: State of Connecticut, Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Aquaculture, Milford, Connecticut 06460, USA. dept.agric@snet.net
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sunila
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Karolus
authors.forename: E P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Mroczka
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Volk
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017756:Aquaculture / Q000379:methods*; D003237:Connecticut; D056890:Eukaryota / Q000502:physiology*; D010125:Ostreidae / Q000469:parasitology*