First record of Perkinsus sp. (Protozoa, Apicomplexa) in the pen shell Atrina maura in Sinaloa, Mexico

We evaluated the presence of the protozoan Perkinsus sp. by determining of its prevalence and level of infection in Atrina maura during 2012. Pen shells were collected per season beside an oyster farm located at Estero La Piedra, Sinaloa, Mexico, and analyzed by Ray’s fluid thioglycollate medium and polymerase chain reaction. The higher prevalence (90%) and infection level (2.3) were obtained when temperature and salinity were higher. The Mackin scale showed a non-infected to moderate infection range. PCR was positive to Perkinsus sp. This is the first record of the presence of Perkinsus sp. in A. maura in Sinaloa, Mexico.