Canadian agency reports oyster parasite already hurting Prince Edward Island industry has appeared in New Brunswick

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has confirmed the presence of two different oyster diseases in Spence Cove, New Brunswick, Canada.The CFIA reported the presence of multinucleate sphere unknown (MSX), caused by the parasite Haplosporidium nelsoni, and Dermo, also known as Perkinsosis, which is caused by Perkinsus marinus, in Spence Cove. Neither pathogen poses a health risk to humans, and the oysters are still safe to eat; however, both cause increased oyster mortality and decreased growth rates. “This is the first confirmed case of MSX in New Brunswick and the first confirmed case of Dermo in Canada,” the CFIA said. To limit the spread of the pathogens, CFIA, Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), and provincial officials in New Brunswick are working with stakeholders and Indigenous communities to monitor the situation. “These actions are part of the Canada's One Health approach to prepare for, detect, and manage animal ...