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Pernet F, Barret J, Le Gall P, Corporeau C, Dégremont L, Lagarde F, Pépin JF, Keck N
Mass mortalities of Pacific oysters Crassostrea gigas reflect infectious diseases and vary with farming practices in the Mediterranean Thau lagoon, France
Mass mortalities of young oysters Crassostrea gigas occurred along all coasts of France during the springs and summers of 2008 and 2009, and there have been cases more recently in the UK, Australia and New Zealand. Pernet and co-workers investigated causes and drivers of these mortalities. This work suggests that the ostreid herpesvirus OsHV-1 is a predominant cause of mortality when seawater temperature was between 17°C and 24°C. This paper reports that mortality of oysters varies between farming sites, in a way consistent with the hydrodynamic regime and connectivity among areas where infected oysters were present. Finally, this study highlights the effects of farming practices on mortality through limitation of the infection of healthy individuals and increase in acquisition of energy.
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