Description of Perkinsus beihaiensis n. sp., a new Perkinsus sp. parasite in oysters of Southern China.

Oysters were collected from coastal locations in China from 1999-2006 for parasite analyses by molecular, culture, and histological techniques. Polymerase chain reaction-based assays targeting the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the ribosomal RNA gene complex were performed to detect the presence of Perkinsus species. Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of amplified Perkinsus sp.

Continuous culture of Perkinsus mediterraneus, a parasite of the European flat oyster Ostrea edulis, and characterization of its morphology, propagation, and extracellular proteins in vitro.

Continuous in vitro cultures of Perkinsus mediterraneus were established from tissues of infected European flat oysters, Ostrea edulis. The parasite proliferated in protein-free medium and divided by schizogony in vitro. Cell morphology was similar to that observed for P.

Perkinsus olseni in vitro isolates from the New Zealand clam Austrovenus stutchburyi.

Perkinsus olseni infections are reported at 10%-84% prevalences among Austrovenus stutchburyi clams (cockles) in northern New Zealand coastal waters. However, P. olseni has not yet been propagated in vitro from New Zealand clams.