Histopathological and ultrastructural characteristics of bacterial destruction of the hinge ligaments of cultured juvenile Pacific oysters, Crassostrea gigas

摘要: Extensive erosion of external ligament surfaces was associated with the presence dense and homogeneous populations very long rod-shaped bacteria within lesions. The distinctive morphological characteristics these suggested their probable affinity one marine genera, Cytophaga, Flexibacter or Flavobacterium. prevalences bacterial lesions in both hinge elements mantle tissues were estimated for a high-mortality population juvenile oysters from commercial hatchery. resilia 93% to contain erosive lesions, while only 20% tensilia contained Bacterial infections occur 47% oyster population. Separate morphometric studies using histological material conducted test hypotheses concerning apparent association between ligaments tissues, mechanistic basis association. probability observing lesion significantly greater (P<0.05) observed have than it all sample. prevalence perforation (7%) insufficient account tissue (47%). These findings support hypothesis that are mortalities affected oysters, but do not etiological infection involves direct invasion following compromise mechanical barrier formed by ligament.