Help Reduce the Translocation Risk
Frequently Asked Questions on Perkinsus
- What is perkinsus?
- Has this parasite previously been found in Australia?
- What about using imported abalone or abalone gut as fishing bait?
- Does the parasite infect animals other than abalone?
- Is it safe to eat product infected with perkinsus?
What is perkinsus?
Perkinsus is a parasite found in wild and farmed abalone and other mollusc species around the world. The parasite is easily spread through the transport of frozen abalone products, with Perkinsus being resistant to freezing for up to 197 days.
Where Perkinsus occurs, it may proliferate in the foot and mantle tissues of abalone, producing pustules up to 8 mm in diameter. These contain a creamy-brown deposit, reducing the market value and resulting in increased mortality of abalone.
Transmission of this parasite occurs through the release of zoospores from the pustules or decaying mollusc tissue.
Has this parasite previously been found in Australia?
The status of Perkinsus in Australia is not well known. Perkinsus does occur in tropical waters from Queensland to northern Western Australia. This tropical form does not appear to have much effect on its host shellfish. However one species, Perkinsus olseni, is of considerable economic importance as it does cause mortalities and pustules in abalone in South Australia.
What about using imported abalone or abalone gut as fishing bait?
As Perkinsus has a considerable ability to survive freezing, the use of abalone as fishing bait - or any other mollusc species - sourced from any other state or territory should be discouraged.
Does the parasite infect animals other than abalone?
Perkinsus infects a range of mollusc species. It does not infect crustaceans, finfish or humans.
Is it safe to eat product infected with perkinsus?
Perkinsus is not harmful to humans, but it is unlikely that abalone with noticeable clinical signs of the parasite, often characterised by tissue pustules, will be suitable for sale for consumption.
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