Dermo disease is caused by a single‐celled oysters or by parasitic snails.
Alternate molluscan
DERMO DISEASE
Inke Sunila, State Shellfish Pathologist
Connecticut Department of Agriculture
Bureau of Aquaculture and Laboratory
Milford, Connecticut 06460
Introduction
Protozoan parasite, Perkinsus marinus. Originally, hosts may serve as important reservoirs for Dermo.
it was thought to be caused by a fungus and
named Dermocystidium marinum. Even after the
reclassification the disease is commonly called
“Dermo”.
Dermo is an intracellular parasite (2‐4 µm)
infecting the hemocytes (blood cells) of the
eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica. It is not
known to be harmful to humans. Dermo’s life
cycle consists of several different stages which
Dermo cell and zoospore. (Malcolm Shute)
proliferate inside the oyster. Its vegetative life
cycle consists of dividing cells which enlarge and,
in turn, divide to produce more daughter cells.
Dermo can also be induced to form zoospores,
which are able to swim with the aid of two
flagella.
Dermo disease caused extensive oyster
mortalities in the Gulf of Mexico in the late 1940s.
Later, it caused chronic and occasionally massive
mortalities in the Chesapeake Bay. Since 1990,
Dermo has been detected in Delaware Bay, Long 50μm
Island Sound, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and
Maine. Hemocyte monolayer preparation with the hemocyte in the middle
infected with several Dermo cells (Inke Sunila)
Transmission
Dermo is transmitted from oyster to
oyster. Natural infections are most often caused by Environmental factors
parasites released from the disintegration of dead Dermo is considered a warm water pathogen
oysters. Infective stages, free in the water column, which proliferates most rapidly at temperatures
are ingested by uninfected oysters and invade the above 25°C (77°F). Activity of the disease is
epithelium of the stomach primarily regulated by temperature in this region:
and intestine. Waterborne stages of the
an endemic situation in Connecticut might result
parasite may spread the disease over long
from a series of warm winters. However, Dermo
distances. Transmission may also occur by vectors
can even survive freezing. It is suppressed by low
such as scavengers feeding on infected dead
salinities (<8‐10‰), but the parasite proliferates infection. On the other hand, Dermo‐associated
rapidly when oysters are transplanted into higher mortalities have been detected in areas of
salinity waters. There are different genetic strains unusually slow oyster growth or during
of Dermo in different geographic regions. Some of restoration efforts when oysters are grown
them cause heavier infections than others. infinitely.
Dermo Infection
Infectious stages are present in the warm months
from May through October. Initial infections are
usually detected in June. Mortalities occur from
July through November. Oysters die due to tissue
lysis and occlusion of hemolymph vessels.
Prevalence and intensity of the disease decreases
during the winter months, and the disease can not
necessarily be detected during winter in infected
oyster beds. Some parasites remain dormant and
50μm
will proliferate as temperatures rise in the spring,
releasing stages that initiate another round of A plastic thick‐section of cultured Dermo cells (Inke Sunila)
infection.
How do I know if my oysters are infected?
Dermo can be diagnosed by microscopical
examination of a preparation from the oyster’s
anal‐rectal tissues cultured in Fluid Thioglycollate
Medium (Ray/Mackin tissue assay). Dermo cells
enlarge forming hypnospores, which can be made
visible by staining them with iodine. Prevalence
(%) indicates, how many oysters in the sample
carry the parasite. Intensity (Mackin scale)
indicates, how many enlarged hypnospores there
is in a microscope field at a given magnification.
The Bureau of Aquaculture provides a diagnostic
pathology service for the State’s oyster growers.
Status of Dermo in Connecticut
1μm
Dermo has spread rapidly throughout the oyster
population along the shoreline. However, Dermo cell under electron microscope (Inke Sunila)
infection with Dermo does not necessarily cause
death of the oyster. Dermo can be characterized
as a slow‐ killing disease. It takes up to three years
in Connecticut after initial infection to parasite
intensities to approach levels high (3 on Mackin
scale) enough to cause death of the oyster.
Oysters are marketed when they are three to four
years old. Consequently, Dermo has not caused
significant mortalities in Connecticut’s commercial
oyster stocks. High oyster mortalities in 1997 and
1998 were due to a MSX outbreak, not Dermo
Dermo hypnospores in a Thioglycollate culture (Christopher Dungan)
100μm
Managing Dermo Infection
GUIDELINES FOR DERMO MANAGEMENT
IN CONNECTICUT
Dermo management guidelines developed
outside the State are not necessarily applicable to • Infected oyster grounds should be kept in
Connecticut’s oyster beds. Managers in adjacent states operation as an active part of the
may suggest that growers avoid transplantation programs
transplanting infected seed oysters, or remove all • Since both seed and adult oysters can be
oysters from an infected ground in order to let grounds infected without significant mortalities in
market oysters, transplantation can occur
“fallow” between plantings.
from seedbed to grow‐out areas
The State of Connecticut has developed its own Dermo • When relying on hatchery‐raised seed, use
prevention guidelines for oyster grounds (see right). Dermo‐resistant strains
Prevalence of Dermo in Connecticut since 1997. (Inke Sunila)
Intensity of Dermo in Connecticut since 1997. (Inke Sunila)
Publication developed by the Connecticut Department of Agriculture. Review and 3
editorial assistance provided by Tessa Getchis, Connecticut Sea Grant.
