Microbial Diseases of Bivalve Mollusks: Infections, Immunology and Antimicrobial Defense.

ABSTRACT: A variety of bivalve mollusks (phylum Mollusca, class Bivalvia) constitute a prominent commodity in fisheries and aquacultures, but are also crucial in order to preserve our ecosystem's complexity and function. Bivalve mollusks, such as clams, mussels, oysters and scallops, are relevant bred species, and their global farming maintains a high incremental annual growth rate, representing a considerable proportion of the overall fishery activities. Bivalve mollusks are filter feeders; therefore by filtering a great quantity of water, they may bioaccumulate in their tissues a high number of microorganisms that can be considered infectious for humans and higher vertebrates. Moreover, since some pathogens are also able to infect bivalve mollusks, they are a threat for the entire mollusk farming

SUBMITTER: Zannella C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5484132 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature