'Cup cell disease' in the colonial tunicate Botryllus schlosseri

Diseases of Aquatic Organisms
Elisabeth MoiseevaB Rinkevich

Abstract

A new progressive, fatal disease called 'cup cell disease' was characterized in ex situ cultures of Botryllus schlosseri, a colonial tunicate. The disease originated as a few dark spots growing within zooids. The infected colonies then started to deteriorate, morphologically diagnosed by ampullar retraction, lethargic blood circulation and by a swollen and soft tunic matrix. In later stages of the disease, developed buds were also affected. Many large black dots were scattered within the tunic matrix, and zooids were transformed to opaque, dilated, sac-like structures, signaling impending death. Colonies were infected periodically, even without direct tissue contact. The time course from first appearance to colony death ranged between 30 and 45 d. Histological studies, in vitro culturing of blood cells and blood smears revealed the existence of numerous cup-like cells (up to 4.8 microm diameter on average) with a yellowish cell wall and transparent cytoplasm that was not stained by various dyes (except azocarmine-G). Cells were refractive under bright-field illumination and revealed a flattened wall with flanges, characteristic of species of the phylum Haplosporidia. Cup cells aggregated in blood vessels and in internal parts o...Continue Reading

Citations

Sep 1, 2005·Marine Biotechnology·Baruch Rinkevich
Mar 5, 2009·In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology. Animal·Claudette RabinowitzBaruch Rinkevich
Oct 23, 2008·Cell Stem Cell·Ayelet VoskoboynikIrving L Weissman
Feb 24, 2007·Developmental Biology·Amalia RosnerBaruch Rinkevich
Oct 15, 2013·Developmental Biology·Amalia RosnerBaruch Rinkevich

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