An investigation into scallop health in the Marlborough Sounds performed by the Ministry for Primary Industries identified an incidental finding of the protozoan parasite Perkinsus olseni.
The notification is based on New Zealand’s national Animal Health Laboratory verifying the presence of Perkinsus by histopathology and confirming P. olseni via conventional PCR and sequencing.
This is the first detection of Perkinsus olseni in New Zealand Scallops (Pecten Novaezealandiae).
In total, 12 cases were reported.
