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Investigation of the loss of byssus in Mytilus galloprovincialis from mussel farms in the Adriatic Sea
Author(s) -
Franchini Antonella,
Malagoli Davide,
Ottaviani Enzo
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
cell biology international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.932
H-Index - 77
eISSN - 1095-8355
pISSN - 1065-6995
DOI - 10.1016/j.cellbi.2005.06.001
Subject(s) - byssus , mussel , mytilus , biology , zoology , fungus , organism , fishery , ecology , botany , paleontology
A fungal infection has been found in the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis from Adriatic Sea mussel farms. The infection ultimately results in the loss of the byssus, with serious consequences for mussel farming yield. The pathogen provokes the progressive destruction of the foot muscles, also damaging related structures such as the intra‐organism part of the byssus apparatus, resulting in loss of the thread component. The affected health status of the animal is also sustained by modifications in the digestive gland structure, ranging from hyperactivity to extreme cell death in the tubula. At present, the identity of the harmful fungus is unknown.