Perkinsus chesapeaki in stout razor clams Tagelus plebeius from Delaware Bay.
Perkinsus chesapeaki is reported from stout razor clams Tagelus plebeius in Delaware Bay, extending the known range of P. chesapeaki north of Chesapeake Bay. P. marinus, which causes dermo disease, is prevalent in cultured and wild oysters at this site, but was not detected in T. plebeius. Evidence for the presence of disseminated neoplasia, also reported from Chesapeake Bay, was equivocal. Although P. chesapeaki infections were associated with mortality events, light infection intensities and a general lack of histopathological evidence of disease limit inferences about a causal relationship. A comparison of Ray's fluid thioglycollate medium (RFTM)-based and PCR-based detection assays highlight differences in detection capabilities related to the quantity and type of tissue processed rather than assay sensitivity per se, a point that should be considered when surveying populations for disease prevalence. Investigators are further cautioned to use care when applying and interpreting diagnostic assays when used with novel species.
Bushek
David
D
Rutgers University, Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory, 6959 Miller Avenue, Port Norris, New Jersey 08349, USA. bushek@hsrl.rutgers.edu
Landau
Brenda
B
Scarpa
Emily
E
D000818:Animals; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000469:parasitology*; D003470:Culture Media; D003691:Delaware / Q000453:epidemiology; D056890:Eukaryota / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011529:Protozoan Infections, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D013864:Thioglycolates
D003470:Culture Media; D013864:Thioglycolates