Abstract

Perkinsus olseni occurs in wild populations of New Zealand cockles( Austrovenus stutchburyi - Family Veneridae), and three other bivalve species, Macomona liliana (Family Tellinidae) , Barbatia novae-zelandiae (Family Arcidae )and Paphies australis (Mesodesmatidae ). These mollusc species occur widely around the coast of New Zealand. Affected locations are from Waitemata Harbour (Auckland) northwards to Cape Reinga, and in Kaipara Harbour. The organism is probably enzootic and it is confined to the warmer waters of northern New Zealand.