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MSX Science Summit – summary
November 13 to 14, 2024 / Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island

MSX Science Summit – summary
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In recognition of the urgency to better understand transmission, impacts and mitigation of multinucleate sphere unknown (MSX) disease in oysters, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) and the Province of Prince Edward Island (P.E.I.) collaborated to host a scientific summit with experts and knowledge holders from federal government departments, provincial governments, industry associations, academia, and Indigenous organizations. The summit occurred from November 13 to 14, 2024 in Charlottetown, P.E.I. and was co-chaired by DFO and the Province of P.E.I. The event included approximately 70 participants over two days, both in-person and online.

The objectives of the summit were generally to characterize the current state of scientific knowledge on MSX. This included identifying critical knowledge gaps to ensure a common understanding of needs for future research on MSX disease dynamics and mitigation of spread and impacts, and outlining data and study design considerations that would thus contribute to lessening the impacts of MSX on the region’s oyster industry.

Summit participants emphasized the seriousness and urgency of the situation unfolding in P.E.I. since the first detection of MSX this past summer. Remarks throughout the first day by elected federal and provincial officials underscored the importance of this issue with potentially significant socioeconomic implications. A recurring message included the need for strong collaboration, open communication and a coordinated approach to ensure successful response and recovery.

The summit unfolded through a series of presentations, panel discussions and exchanges in plenary. Throughout the course of the summit, presentations were provided on topics including: the current state of MSX in P.E.I., ongoing work by the Province of P.E.I. to monitor and understand MSX disease dynamics by monitoring oyster mortalities in Bedeque Bay (P.E.I.), background information on what is known of the MSX life cycle, some lessons learned from MSX incidence and research in the Bras d’Or Lakes in Nova Scotia, research in United States (U.S.) jurisdictions (predominantly on the East Coast) on MSX monitoring and mitigation and a summary of a workshop facilitated in August by the Prince Edward Island Aquaculture Alliance (PEIAA) that provided additional information on industry research needs and priorities.

Key unknowns highlighted during the summit

Presenters, panelists and participants spoke of several key unknowns and areas where there is higher uncertainty in the science of MSX. These areas include:

There has been considerable research effort to-date in attempt to identify an intermediate host for MSX involved in transmission of the disease to/between oysters. There are varying perspectives as to whether this is a top research priority; however many recognize that this topic remains important and that a better understanding of the MSX life cycle could ultimately lead to a better understanding of disease dynamics resulting in more predictable outcomes as well as more effective control and mitigation measures.

It was discussed that much of the American experience with MSX resistance, including the use of broodstock programs and hatcheries to provide resistant seed, has focused on propagating progenies of survivors from large-scale mortality events in order to reduce future oyster mortality. There is still a gap in understanding what causes resistance (i.e., immune response) and if there are genetic markers or traits that could be used to find oyster populations that are likely to show resistance. This could result in better planning for broodstock and hatchery programs that use selective breeding.

Broodstock development programs and hatcheries are being used in other jurisdictions as part of an overall MSX mitigation strategy. Participants highlighted knowledge needs on the use of broodstock programs and impacts of selective breeding programs such as the use of triploids, etc., on local oyster populations.

There is some information known about how temperature and salinity can impact MSX, however additional work for the local ecosystems context, including locally adapted oyster populations and effects of microclimates, will provide useful information going forward.

There is a lot to learn from the research and practices employed in other jurisdictions. However, key questions remain as to how local climate could influence disease dynamics going forward and whether some of the cyclical aspects observed in the U.S. (for example, several years between outbreaks) will also be observed in Canada.

Key research areas highlighted during the summit

Building on these points, there were many ideas for research directions and potential projects presented that could help to address the key unknowns identified. Some of the major research themes included:

Research on MSX resistance will be important, including the need for a better understanding of heritability of MSX resistance, correlations between genetic markers and/or traits and different phenotypes including other physiological and stress responses in oysters, and how to best select for traits that result in resistance. A clear understanding of outcomes of resistance will also be important (for example, prolonged resistance to MSX, ability to grow to market size before significant health effects, etc.).

Field experiments can help advance our understanding of how environmental conditions and seasonal changes impact MSX disease dynamics such as infections, transmission and mortality rates. This type of research may also contribute to resistance work, could identify other possible mitigation strategies, and provide information about key areas where increased monitoring and surveillance may be required.  

Understanding ways in which non-lethal sampling of oysters might help advance research and other forms of monitoring and surveillance will be important and can complement lethal sampling.

Testing for regulatory decision-making (for example when confirming the presence of MSX) requires specific methodologies and are done through the DFO’s ISO-certified National Aquatic Animal Health Laboratory System. This System remains very important for instances where a case definition of disease must be met for regulatory purposes. As we move forward with MSX response and recovery, stakeholders may seek to use other types and methodologies of testing for different purposes, such as rapid detection and trying to understand links between MSX prevalence (as seen by tests like qPCR, sequencing, etc.) and mortality. For these types of research and management purposes, standardization will be key for data/information sharing and further work on rapid or portable detection methods may be useful.

Collaboration and information sharing

Participants spoke ardently about the need for collaboration and information sharing to advance research on MSX, without too much duplication of work,  and to encourage and foster a culture of communication and cooperation.

Participant suggestions included:

This section of the summit was mainly focused on idea generation as opposed to mechanisms for implementation of the various ideas. Participants emphasized the importance of identifying committed, long-term funding sources to support this work and the need for time to ensure coordination and organization in advance of calls associated with funding opportunities. 

Next steps

The summit focused largely on science gaps related to harvester and aquaculture needs and uncertainties. However, it was acknowledged that there are broader ecological questions that will be important as we move forward with mitigating impacts from MSX. For example, the possibility of large-scale, bay area impacts due to oyster mortality which could affect multiple trophic levels. This larger topic could be considered for future discussions.

The contributions by guest presenters and panelists were the catalyst for engaged participation.  This summit will hopefully be an initial step in fostering a network of researchers and collaborators that will continue to exchange and engage in MSX research in the region.

List of participants

Alphabetical order, after co-chairs. Participants attended either in person or online.

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