QPX : "The Black Plague" of clams

What is QPX ?
    QPX, or "quoahog parasite unknow" is uncurable once detected in clams, but  doesn't affect humans.  It is a major threat to the Cape's aquaculture industry, and the livelihood of many clam farmers.

What are the Symptoms ?

  According to the article 'Black plague' of clams, from the Cape Cod times, QPX infects the soft tissues of the clam.  The clam becomes too inflamed to filter out harmful bacteria, and becomes infected.

Is it Contagious ?

QPX does not affect humans, but is highly contagious among clams.  The tissue of an infected clam will deteriorate into a slime, which then infects the clams around it.

Diseases of Aquatic Organisms:  Prevalence and distribution of QPX, Quahog       Parasite Unknown, in hard clams Mercenaria mercenaria in Virginia, USA
 

The Case of the Dying Quoahogs
 

   2000-2001:
 Mercenaria mercenaria-QPX: Immunological
 Characterization of the Host-Pathogen Interface
 
 

Shellfish Diseases and Their Control in the Local Waters
 

General Information Links :

Bivalves

Internal Anatomy of the Clam

More Clam Pictures & Anatomy

Northern Quahog (Mercenaria mercenaria)
 
 
 

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