ABSTRACT: The effects of stock and culture environment on the prevalence of Marteiliarefringens and Mytilicola intestinalis in the mussel Mytilusgalloprovincialis, cultured in the Ría de Arousa (Galicia, NW Spain) were studied in a transplantation experiment. Mussel seed from 4 natural populations (stocks) of the Galician coast were transferred to culture ropes hung from the fore-part and aft-part (situations) of rafts located in 3 culture areas (sites) inside the ría. The prevalence of M.refringens was mainly affected by the culture site. Thus, mussels cultivated in the inner area of the ría showed significantly higher prevalences than those in the middle and outer ones. Stock and situation within the raft showed less important effects. None of the 3 factors investigated showed important effects on the prevalence of M.intestinalis.

KEY WORDS: Mytilusgalloprovincialis . Marteiliarefringens . Mytilicolaintestinalis . Prevalence . Stock . Culture environment . Transplantation . Mussel cultivation

Published in DAO Vol. 21, No. 3 (1995) on March 30
ISSN: 0177-5103. Copyright © Inter-Research, Oldendorf/Luhe, 1995