Perkinsus

Perkinsus
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
(unranked):	SAR
(unranked):	Alveolata
Phylum:	Perkinsozoa
Class:	Perkinsea
Order:	Perkinsida
Family:	Perkinsidae
Genus:	Perkinsus Levine, 1978
Species
7-8, see text

7-8, see text

Perkinsus is a genus of alveolates in the phylum Perkinsozoa. The genus was erected in 1978 to better treat its type species, Perkinsus marinus, known formerly as Dermocystidium marinum. These are parasitic protozoans that infect molluscs, at least some of which cause disease and mass mortality. P. marinus is the most notorious, causing the disease perkinsosis, or dermo, in wild and farmed oysters.

As of 2004 there were six valid species in the genus. At least two more have been described since then.

Species and common hosts include:

P. andrewsi and P. chesapeaki might be the same species; because the latter was described first, the name P. andrewsi will be a synonym.

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