WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) – Researchers at UNCW have identified a parasite that affects approximately one in every five bay scallops in the local area, according to an announcement from the university.

Per the release, the research team estimates that the previously undescribed species of trematode parasite infects around 18% of wild scallops and 22% of caged scallops.

Some scallops in the Gulf of Mexico near Florida have also been found to be infected, but the parasite has not been seen north of N.C.

“The parasite is bad news for native bay scallop populations in North Carolina, which are already stressed,” the release states. “The facts that the parasite infects such a popular species and is obvious to the naked eye, but was not seen before 2012, mean it is likely an introduced species. It uses the bay scallop as a first intermediate host, but later hosts in its lifecycle remain unidentified, pending further research.”

More information about the parasite can be found on the UNCW website.

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