title: Molecular evidence for the existence of two species of Marteilia in Europe.
abstract: Marteilia refringens is one of the most significant pathogens of bivalve molluscs. Previous sequencing of the small subunit ribosomal RNA gene of M. refringens isolates derived from the infected mussels (Mytilus edulis and Mytilus galloprovinciallis) and the oyster (Ostrea edulis) in Europe did not reveal genetic polymorphisms despite indications from epizootiological data that distinct types may exist. We investigated the existence of polymorphisms in the internal transcribed spacer region of the ribosomal RNA genes. The sequences of this region proved to be clearly dimorphic among Marteilia from five sampling sites. The distribution of the two genetic types, named "O" and "M", appeared to be linked to the host species, oysters and mussels, respectively. We therefore support the recognition of two species of Marteilia in Europe and propose that the "O" type corresponds to M. refringens and the "M" type to M. maurini.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Génétique et Pathologie, IFREMER, La Tremblade, France. fleroux@ifremer.fr
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Le Roux
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lorenzo
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Peyret
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Audemard
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Figueras
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vivarès
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gouy
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Berthe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000469:parasitology*; D002965:Classification; D056890:Eukaryota / Q000145:classification*; D005060:Europe; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010125:Ostreidae / Q000469:parasitology*; D010802:Phylogeny; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
chemical_list: D012335:RNA, Ribosomal