Intracellular ciliates of cultured Mediterranean mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis) in the Gulf of Trieste in Slovene Adriatic Sea

Mediterranean mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) are reared at three locations in the Slovene Sea. From two established sampling sites, i.e., Seca and Strunjan, 154 adult cultured mussels were collected in May and July 2004. No mortalities occurred at either sampling site and no abnormalities were seen during macroscopic examination of collected mussels. Intracellular ciliates were detected in digestive glands in 21.4% of mussels. A mild infection was noted in 94% and moderate infection in 6% of mussels. No inflammation occurred in any of infected mussels and only focal necrosis of digestive glands was noticed in some of infected samples.