Abstract
Crassostrea rhizophorae and C. gasar oysters are cultivated in the northeast region. Perkinsus parasites infect bivalves, and their effects on oysters from tropical regions are poorly understood. This study evaluated the impact of Perkinsus infection on the productive traits of native oysters. Oysters were sampled bimonthly during 7 months, from July 2010 to February 2011, to evaluate growth rate, mortality and shell color patterns (white and dark-gray) (n = 500), and to determine the prevalence and intensity of Perkinsus (n = 152). Perkinsus and Crassostrea species were determined using molecular tools. Results showed that most dark-gray (90%, n = 20) and white (67%, n = 18) oysters were C. gasar and C. rhizophorae, respectively. Oysters showed a high growth rate and moderate cumulative mortality (44%). C. gasar oysters grew better and showed lower mortality and lower incidence of Perkinsus compared to C. rhizophorae. The mean prevalence of Perkinsus was moderate (48%), but the infection intensity was light (2.2). Perkinsosis affected very small oysters (19.4 mm). In conclusion, native oysters, especially C. gasar, have a great potential for culture, mortality is not associated with perkinsosis, and the shell color of oysters can be used to improve selection for spats with better performance.
Highlights
Two mangrove oyster species, Crassostrea rhizophorae and C. gasar, inhabit the estuaries of the northeast region of Brazil
The present study evaluated, for the first time, the impact of perkinsosis on the productive traits of Crassostrea spp. oysters cultured in Brazil as well as the susceptibility of two native oyster species, C. rhizophorae and C. gasar to P. beihaiensis and P. marinus infection
Comparison of the productive traits among the native oyster population cultivated in Brazil is a challenge because of the wide differences in experimental conditions employed, including the spats origins, starting spats size, time of culture, culture methods, and geographical location
Summary
Crassostrea rhizophorae and C. gasar, inhabit the estuaries of the northeast region of Brazil. They have wide geographical distribution, with C. rhizophorae inhabiting from the southern Caribbean to Uruguay and C. gasar from South America to Africa (LAPÈGUE et al, 2002). The state of Santa Catarina (SC, South Brazil) is the biggest national producer of bivalves (17,000 tons of Perna perna mussels and 3,000 tons of C. gigas) (SANTOS & COSTA, 2015). Recently (2014), a private enterprise implemented a hatchery facility in the northeast region to produce spats of C. gasar (DA SILVA et al, 2016).
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