A general view of the situation of enteromyxosis in cultured sparids in the studied countries was obtained in the epidemiological study. The utility of PCR assays, and particularly of the NL-PCR test to screen farm stocks for E. leei was demonstrated.
In Sparus aurata, enteromyxosis was detected in the five countries, France, Greece, Italy, Spain and Israel, in geographical locations from North Atlantic (English Channel), South Atlantic (Canary Islands), Mediterranean (French, Greek, Spanish and Israel coasts) and Read Sea. Nine out of 12 sampled farms were found infected. Land-based systems had significantly higher infection levels and mortalities than sea cage farms.
Temperatures over 20 ºC and poor water exchange may have contributed to enhance enteromyxosis in pond systems. In sea cages, prevalences were generally low, except in some Red Sea farms. Usually, a minimum exposure time to enzootic water is necessary for the infection to be detected.
In Diplodus puntazzo (examined only in two Greek farms), the highest prevalences were observed in juvenile fish, in which high mortality also occurred, whereas most fish were negative at harvesting size.