The Relationship between the Flagellate Protozoon Hexamita and the Oyster Crassostrea virginica

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Hexamita has been cited as a pathogen responsible for a disease resulting in the mortality of oysters. Hexamita occurs in a large percentage of the oyster population of Delaware Bay only during the winter and early spring months. Maximum infections (54.5%) in Delaware Bay occurred during March 1960 and coincided with minimum water temperatures. Salinity seemed unimportant in determining the occurrence of Hexamita. In culture the rate of reproduction among trophozoites of Hexamita increases with increasing water temperature up to approximately 20[degree]C. Temperatures above 25[degree]C are lethal. Exposure of oysters to high concentrations (ca 104 organisms per ml) of Hexamita in the laboratory showed no serious effects for the 4 1/2 week duration of the experiment. It is tentatively concluded that Hexamita does not contribute in any important manner to the death of oysters.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: