| detection of the kinetoplastid azumiobodo hoyamushi, the causative agent of soft tunic syndrome, in wild ascidians halocynthia roretzi. | the occurrence of soft tunic syndrome in wild populations of the ascidian halocynthia roretzi was monitored by diving at 5 to 6 sites in miyagi prefecture in japan in summer 2010 and 2011. these sites were located at varying distances from farming sites at which the disease had previously been detected. all dead ascidians were collected, and their tunics were examined for azumiobodo hoyamushi, the causative agent of soft tunic syndrome, using 18s rrna pcr. in both years, <1% of wild ascidians we ... | 2013 | 24192003 |