Epidemiology of Bonamia in the UK, 1982 to 2012

Abstract

it was found in 2 new areas, one in Wales and one in Scotland. Subsequent further spread to additional areas in all parts of the UK has resulted in 9 zones being currently designated as infected with the disease. In addition, a single oyster from one area has tested positive for the closely related B. exitiosa. In general, analysis of the results of the monitoring programme in England and Wales shows no clear trend in infection levels over time, although there has been an apparent decrease in the level of infection in some fishery areas. In an autumn sampling programme the highest levels of infection were detected in October.

Have Centuries of Inefficient Fishing Sustained a Wild Oyster Fishery: a Case Study

“…However, the oyster disease Bonamia-caused by the parasite Bonamia ostreae has had a significant impact on local stocks. Introduced to Europe via spat from the USA in the late 1970s it was first identified in the UK in the Fal and Helford estuaries in 1982 [20] and rendered fishing unprofitable during the 1980's [22,23]. At the time the spread of the disease was managed though the use of movement controls [24], which would have prevented operation as a brood stock fishery.…”

“…Despite the unique nature of the fishery and the ecological complexity of the Fal estuary it has attracted relatively little scientific investigation. The Fal Oyster currently has Protected Designation of Origin status [23] and is sold to both the food industry and into aquaculture as brood stock. Annual landings of approximately 50-60 tonnes [18], makes an economic contribution to an economically deprived region of the UK.…”

Managing marine mollusc diseases in the context of regional and international commerce: policy issues and emerging concerns

“…The case of OsHV-1 mvar highlights an additional issue related to emerging diseases: it can be challenging to place [42,43]. One unexpected report was the detection of the parasite in O. edulis from Limfjorden, Denmark, a zone that gained its free status regarding bonamiosis in 2004 [44].…”

Microcell parasites of molluscs: introduction to DAO Special 7

“…B. ostreae infects O. edulis in a number of European countries, providing motivation for various laboratories to study this parasite−host system (e.g. Culloty & Mulcahy 1996, da Silva et al 2005, Arzul et al 2011; see also Laing et al 2014, Lynch et al 2014, Ramilo et al 2014a. B. exitiosa naturally infects O. chilensis, O. stentina, O. lurida, O. puelchana, O. angasi, S. glomerata, and O. edulis in New Zealand and Australia, North America, South America, Europe, and North Africa (see Hill et al 2014, this DAO Special), and observations of experimental deployments indicate that C. ariakensis is susceptible as well (Burreson et al 2004).…”

“…Thirteen of the papers in this DAO Special, including separate reviews on both Mikrocytos (Abbott & Meyer 2014) and Bonamia (Engelsma et al 2014), present new insights into Mikrocytos and Bonamia diversity and distributions (Abbott et al 2014, Hill et al 2014, Ramilo et al 2014b), diagnostics (Flannery et al 2014, Ramilo et al 2014c, ultrastructure (Hine et al 2014), and infection dynamics (Audemard et al 2014, Laing et al 2014, Lynch et al 2014, Oehrens Kissner et al 2014, Ramilo et al 2014a, and capture major developments in the field since the last review of these genera (Carnegie & Cochennec-Laureau 2004). The fourteenth, by Spiers et al (2014), points to continuing uncertainty concerning the identity of B. roughleyi and reminds us that 'microcells' may well include more taxa than Bonamia and Mikrocytos.…”