Are outbreaks of Marteilia sydneyi in Sydney rock oysters, Saccostrea commercialis, triggered by a drop in environmental pH?

Abstract

Two outbreaks of Marteilia sydneyi in oysters near the mouth of the Brisbane River are described. Before the first outbreak the pH fell slightly, but before the second outbreak it remained unchanged. Changes in salinity and temperature were minor. The results indicate that these epizootics of M. sydneyi were not correlated with fluctuations in pH, salinity and temperature of water in close proximity to the oysters.