Animal Sciences Commons^™

Oyster Mortality Studies In Virginia. Vii. Review Of Epizootiology And Origin Of Minchinia Nelson, Jay D. Andrews

VIMS Articles

Intensive epizootics in Crassostrea virginica caused by Minchinia nelsoni (MSX) show no signs of abating in lower Chesapeake Bay. Prevalences of the pathogen have commonly exceeded 50% in susceptible stocks during the first year of exposure; mortalities of 50 to 70% occurred during the first year and slightly lower losses in succeeding years. Disease activity increased in isolated lots of oysters from 1963 to 1966 during a drought period with high salinities. Native and planted oysters were extremely scarce in the lower Chesapeake Bay hence density of populations appears not to be important for disease activity. Seasonal patterns of death …