Assessment of Infection Prevalence and Intensity of Disease-Causing Parasitic Protozoans and in Georgia Oysters.

Eastern oysters, , are ecologically and economically important coastal species which provide a commercially valuable food product while also improving water quality through filtration, protecting shorelines, and providing habitat. The protozoan parasites and commonly infect oysters along the United States Atlantic and Gulf coasts and have been linked to poor oyster health and mass mortality events. In this study, wild oysters were collected from multiple reefs within four tidal creeks along the coast of Georgia to investigate and prevalence and intensity, their potential impact on oyster health, and identify possible drivers of the parasites.