Use of particle filtration
and UV irradiation to prevent infection by Haplosporidium nelsoni
(MSX) and Perkinsus marinus (Dermo) in hatchery-reared larval and
juvenile oysters
S.E. Ford, Zhe Xu, G. Debrosse-2001
Aquaculture, 194 (1-2): 37-49
Abstract:
Means to control infection by pathogenic organisms
are needed to help ensure that aquaculture is not a source for the spread of
infectious diseases in wild and cultured stocks. Questions often arise as to
whether larval or juvenile stages become infected in the hatchery or nursery
phase of production, and if so, how they might be protected. To help answer
these questions, we utilized both traditional and molecular diagnostic
methods to detect two eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica,
pathogens (Haplosporidium nelsoni, cause of MSX disease and Perkinsus
marinus, cause of Dermo disease) in larval and juvenile oysters reared
at a hatchery/on-shore nursery receiving water in which both parasites are
enzootic. Our study indicated that filtration of water to 1 µm using a
cartridge filter followed by exposure to 30,000 µW s-1 cm-2
ultraviolet (UV) irradiation was an effective means of preventing infections
of the larvae and post-set. Once the juveniles were moved from the highly
treated hatchery water to an upweller nursery receiving only roughly (150 µm)
bag-filtered water, however, they became infected by both parasites.
(Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory, Institute of
Marine and Coastal Science and Cook College, Rutgers University, 6959 Miller
Avenue, Port Norris, NJ 08349, USA)