Detection of Marteilia refringens infecting the European flat oyster Ostrea edulis and the dwarf oyster Ostrea stentina in southern Portugal and Spain

• Published in: Journal of invertebrate pathology Vol. 130; pp. 52 - 55
• Main Authors: López-Sanmartín, Monserrat, Batista, Frederico M., del Carmen Marín, María, Garrido, Inmaculada, Quintero, David, Grade, Ana, Ruano, Francisco, de la Herrán, Roberto, Navas, José I.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01-09-2015
• Subjects: Animals; Cercozoa; DNA, Protozoan - analysis; Histology; Host-Parasite Interactions; In Situ Hybridization; Marteilia; Marteilia refringens; Ostrea - parasitology; Ostrea edulis; Ostrea stentina; PCR; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Portugal; Spain; ANE, Portugal; ANE, Europe, Iberian Peninsula; Ostrea stentina; Histology; Marteilia refringens; In situ hybridization; Ostrea edulis; PCR
• ISSN: 0022-2011; 1096-0805
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2015.07.003

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•Determine if O. stentina present in southern Iberian Peninsula is infected with M. refringens.•Confirm the presence of M. refringens in Portugal using molecular methods.•We observed M. refringens type O in O. stentina and O. edulis samples and type M in O. stentina.
In the present study, Marteilia sp. was detected by histological examination and in situ hybridisation in Ostrea edulis and Ostrea stentina collected in southern Iberian Peninsula. Marteilia refringens DNA was detected by PCR in O. edulis (collected in southern Portugal) and O. stentina (collected in southern Spain and Portugal). Sequencing analysis revealed the presence of M. refringens type O in O. edulis, and type O and M in O. stentina. This is the first confirmed detection of M. refringens in Portugal and the first report on the occurrence of M. refringens infecting O. stentina in Europe.