Two Oyster Diseases Detected in New Brunswick, One a Canadian First

MSX and dermo, both harmful to oyster populations but safe for humans, have been confirmed in Spence Cove, raising concerns for the aquaculture industry.

• The Canadian Food Inspection Agency confirmed the presence of MSX and dermo in oyster samples from Spence Cove, New Brunswick, marking the first detection of dermo in Canada.
• Both diseases increase oyster mortality rates and reduce growth but pose no risk to human health or food safety, according to officials.
• Dermo spreads directly between oysters, while MSX requires an unknown intermediate host; both diseases are prevalent in U.S. oyster populations.
• Scientists and farmers are exploring strategies like suspended oyster bags and selective breeding to mitigate the diseases' impact and build resistance over time.
• Authorities, including Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Indigenous groups, are monitoring the outbreak and increasing testing to manage the spread.

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