The relationship of blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) size class and molt stage to disease acquisition and intensity of Hematodinium perezi infections

PloS One
K A LycettJ S Pitula

Abstract

In the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, early studies suggested a relationship between smaller crabs, which molt more frequently, and higher rates of infection by the dinoflagellate parasite, Hematodinium perezi. In order to better explore the influence of size and molting on infections, blue crabs were collected from the Maryland coastal bays and screened for the presence of H. perezi in hemolymph samples using a quantitative PCR assay. Molt stage was determined by a radioimmunoassay which measured ecdysteroid concentrations in blue crab hemolymph. Differences were seen in infection prevalence between size classes, with the medium size class (crabs 61 to 90 mm carapace width) and juvenile crabs (≤ 30 mm carapace width) having the highest infection prevalence at 47.2% and 46.7%, respectively. All size classes were susceptible to infection, although fall months favored disease acquisition by juveniles, whereas mid-sized animals (31-90 mm carapace width) acquired infection predominantly in summer. Disease intensity was also most pronounced in the summer, with blue crabs > 61 mm being primary sources of proliferation. Molt status appeared to be influenced by infection, with infected crabs having significantly lower concentrations o...Continue Reading

References

Nov 11, 1999·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·J S ChungS G Webster
Sep 24, 2005·Diseases of Aquatic Organisms·Grant D Stentiford, Jeffrey D Shields
Nov 23, 2006·Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology. Part A, Molecular & Integrative Physiology·Eric D LundEllen Harvey

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Citations

Oct 13, 2019·Parasites & Vectors·Charlotte E DaviesAndrew F Rowley

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Methods Mentioned

BETA
dissections
PCR

Software Mentioned

Biosoft
R
R studio
AssayZap

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