Investigation of the loss of byssus in Mytilus galloprovincialis from mussel farms in the Adriatic Sea.
A fungal infection has been found in the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis from Adriatic Sea mussel farms. The infection ultimately results in the loss of the byssus, with serious consequences for mussel farming yield. The pathogen provokes the progressive destruction of the foot muscles, also damaging related structures such as the intra-organism part of the byssus apparatus, resulting in loss of the thread component. The affected health status of the animal is also sustained by modifications in the digestive gland structure, ranging from hyperactivity to extreme cell death in the tubula. At present, the identity of the harmful fungus is unknown.
Franchini
Antonella
A
Department of Animal Biology, via Campi 213/D, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41100 Modena, Italy.
Malagoli
Davide
D
Ottaviani
Enzo
E
D000818:Animals; D017756:Aquaculture; D004064:Digestive System / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005658:Fungi; D007558:Italy; D008522:Mediterranean Sea; D049878:Mytilus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D013045:Species Specificity