SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT PARASITIC INFECTIONS IN MOLLUSCA

The adverse social, economic and environmental consequences of uncontrolled movement of live aquatic animals and their products have increased global awareness of the need for improved health management standards. The serious impact of unrestricted international movement of aquatic animals has led to the development of health certification and risk reduction methodologies. Increasing development of shellfish aquaculture, and recent advances in diagnostic techniques, along with diversification of cultured species, continue to provide a seemingly inexhaustible reserve of new or emerging infectious disease problems. Numerous species of parasites have been described from various species of Mollusca. Some of them have had a serious impact on wild populations and shellfish aquaculture production.