<i>Perkinsus</i> spp. and <i>Perkinsus marinus</i> strains used in the study.

Perkinsus marinus PRA240 was used for the primary screen. A total of eight P. marinus strains isolated from oysters from the East and Gulf Coast of the USA and five Perkinsus spp. from around the world were used for the secondary screen. In all the cases cultures were maintained in Dulbecco modified Eagle's: Ham's F12 (1∶2) supplemented with 5% fetal bovine serum. *Perkinsus qugwadi and Perkinsus beihaiensis have never been available in culture [57], [58]. Perkinsus spp. and Perkinsus marinus strains used in the study.