First record of Marteilia sp in mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis in Croatia

Marteiliosis is a disease of molluscs caused by Marteilia refringens in Eur ope and M. sydneyi in Australia. During routine examination of cultured mus sels Mytilus galloprovinciallis in the northern Adriatic, the occurrence of Marteilia sp. was recorded with a prevalence of 5 %. This parasite was not detected in flat oysters reared in the same area. The affiliation of the d etected parasite in M. galloprovinciallis was confirmed by in situ hybridiz ation using a M. refringens probe, specific at the genus level. DNA of thes e infected mussels originating from the same area will be used to clarify t he taxonomic position of this species within the genus Marteilia using a mo lecular approach.