Bacterial diversity of the digestive gland of Sydney rock oysters, <i>Saccostrea glomerata</i> infected with the paramyxean parasite, <i>Marteilia sydneyi</i>

Abstract

This is the first culture-independent study of the microbiota of the digestive glands of edible oysters to the species level. The commercial viability of the Sydney rock oyster industry in Australia is currently threatened by Queensland Unknown disease and the changes in the bacterial community of S. glomerata corresponding with infection by M. sydneyi sheds further light on the link between parasite infection and mortality in this economically damaging disease.