Pathology and mass mortality of Pacific oysters, Crassostrea gigas (Thunberg), in 2005 at the East Frisian coast, Germany

In 2005, Pacific oysters, Crassostrea gigas, were collected from May to September along the East Frisian coast and processed for histology. Because of mass mortalities in September, additional samples of moribund oysters and apparently healthy blue mussels, Mytilus edulis, were subjected to virological and ultrastructural investigation. The oysters displayed a variety of pathological conditions including viral gametocytic hypertrophy which is reported here for the first time from the German coast. Haemocyte aggregations in the digestive tract, in the intestinal mucosa and submucosa, in the mid-gut gland and in the ventricle of the heart were commonly observed at some stations. In association with mass mortalities, severe gill necrosis occurred which may have contributed to the high mortality rates. Total mortality rates of up to approximately 60% were seen. All size classes and thus age classes of oysters were affected, with highest mortality rates within the youngest age classes which had just reached sexual maturity (shell lengths < 40 mm). The smallest dead oysters had shell lengths of 10 mm. The phenomenon was mainly restricted to C. gigas stocks in harbours, probably because of favourable conditions for infection, i.e. limited water exchange, less food availability, reduced oxygen content and higher pollution levels.