Assessing the Presence and Virulence of Dermo Disease in the Environment Using a PCR-Based Diagnostic Assay for the Extrachromosomal Plastid Genome of Perkinsus marinus
One vital need to protect against transferring infected oysters into uninfected areas is the ability to detect the presence of disease in broodstock, spat and adult oysters, even at very low levels, as well as in the environment into which oysters might be planted. Research by Vasta and Marsh is continuing the development of molecular probes for
Perkinsus marinus. Specifically, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of a unique DNA molecule found only in Perkinsus is used as the basis of a test which can detect the parasite at levels several orders of magnitude below that of current techniques.
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Gerardo Vasta and Adam G. Marsh
Center of Marine Biotechnology
University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute
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