The phylum Mollusca is one of the major groups of Lophotrochozoa. Although mollusks exhibit great morphological diversity, only a few comparative embryological studies have been performed on this group. In the present study, to begin understanding the molecular development of the diverse morphology among mollusks, we observed early embryogenesis in a bivalve, the Japanese spiny oyster, Saccostr...

In Australia and New Zealand, Bonamia sp. causes epizootics in flat oysters (Tiostrea chilensis, Ostrea angasi); Marteilia sydneyi and Mikrocytos roughleyi cause mortality in farmed rock oysters (Saccostrea commercialis); and Perkinsus olseni is pathogenic in abalone (Haliotis spp.). Marteilia lengehi, Marteilioides branchialis, other Marteilioides spp. and two species of Haplosporidium are reg...

In this study, the amount of nickel and vanadium elements in the soft tissues of rock oysters (Saccostrea cuculata) and sea water from coastal areas of Qeshm Island, the biggest island of Persian Gulf located in the south of Iran, were measured to evaluate the contamination of the aquatic environment and organisms. Following the bioassay, weighing and chemical digestion of the samples, finally...

QX is a fatal disease in Sydney rock oysters (Saccostrea glomerata) that results from infection by the protistan parasite, Marteilia sydneyi. Since 1997, the New South Wales Fisheries Service has bred S. glomerata for resistance to QX disease. The current study shows that the QX resistance breeding program has selected oysters with enhanced phenoloxidase (PO) activities. The third generation of...