IFREMER, Laboratory of Genetics and Pathology, Av de Mus de Loup-17390, La Tremblade, France.
Parasitology. 2012 Nov;139(13):1757-71. doi: 10.1017/S0031182012001047. Epub 2012 Aug 16.
Although clam populations in France are known to be infected with protozoans of the genus Perkinsus, no molecular characterization was previously performed on these parasites. Considering that several members of this genus have been associated with mortalities of molluscs worldwide, a study was undertaken in order to characterize these parasites in France. For that purpose, clams, Ruditapes philippinarum and R. decussatus, collected from different production areas and found to be infected with Perkinsus sp. in thioglycolate culture medium, were selected for PCR-RFLP tests and sequencing. Perkinsus olseni was detected in all the investigated areas and results also suggested the presence of P. chesapeaki in Leucate, a lagoon on the Mediterranean coast and in Bonne Anse in Charente Maritime, on the Atlantic coast. Clonal cultures from both detected species were produced in order to describe and compare in vitro stages. Differences in size between both Perkinsus spp. were noticed especially for schizonts and zoosporangia. Lastly, in situ hybridization tests allowed confirmation of the presence of both species in the same R. decussatus population and even in same clams. This is the first detection of P. chesapeaki in Ruditapes species and outside North America, which questions its introduction into Europe.
尽管已知法国的蛤种群感染了 Perkinsus 属的原生动物，但之前并未对这些寄生虫进行分子特征描述。考虑到该属的几个成员与全球贝类动物的死亡率有关，因此进行了这项研究，以便在法国对这些寄生虫进行特征描述。为此，从不同生产区采集的感染了 Perkinsus sp. 的蛤，即菲律宾蛤仔和光滑滨螺，在巯基乙酸盐培养基中进行了 PCR-RFLP 测试和测序。在所研究的所有地区均检测到了 Perkinsus olseni，结果还表明在 Leucate 泻湖（位于地中海沿岸）和大西洋沿岸的 Charente Maritime 的 Bonne Anse 地区存在 P. chesapeaki。为了描述和比较体外阶段，从两种检测到的物种中都产生了克隆培养物。两种 Perkinsus spp. 之间在大小上存在差异，特别是裂殖体和游动孢子囊。最后，原位杂交试验证实了这两种物种在同一 R. decussatus 种群中甚至在同一蛤中存在。这是首次在 Ruditapes 属中发现 P. chesapeaki，而且不在北美地区，这引发了对其引入欧洲的质疑。
