Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-ndw9j Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T06:59:39.109Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Parasitization of juvenile edible crabs (Cancer pagurus) by the dinoflagellate, Hematodinium sp.: pathobiology, seasonality and its potential effects on commercial fisheries

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 August 2014

AMANDA L. SMITH ,
LUCY HIRSCHLE ,
CLAIRE L. VOGAN  and
ANDREW F. ROWLEY
AMANDA L. SMITH
Affiliation:
Department of Biosciences, College of Science, Swansea University, Swansea SA2 8PP, Wales, UK
LUCY HIRSCHLE
Affiliation:
Department of Biosciences, College of Science, Swansea University, Swansea SA2 8PP, Wales, UK
CLAIRE L. VOGAN
Affiliation:
College of Medicine, Swansea University, Swansea SA2 8PP, Wales, UK
ANDREW F. ROWLEY*
Affiliation:
Department of Biosciences, College of Science, Swansea University, Swansea SA2 8PP, Wales, UK
*
*Corresponding author: Department of Biosciences, College of Science, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, Wales, UK. E-mail: a.f.rowley@swansea.ac.uk
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

This study reports on the prevalence and severity of infections caused by the parasitic dinoflagellate, Hematodinium in juvenile edible crabs (Cancer pagurus) found in 2 intertidal survey sites (Mumbles Head and Oxwich Bay) in the Bristol Channel, UK. Crabs were assessed for the presence and severity of Hematodinium infections by the histological examination of infected tissues. Such infections were found to exhibit a seasonal trend in the 2 study areas with high numbers of animals (ca. 30%) infected in the spring to summer but with low severity. Conversely, in November only ca. 10% of crabs were infected but these animals had large numbers of parasites in their haemolymph and other tissues. At this time, the carapace and underlying tissues of infected crabs had the chalky, pinkish-orange appearance that is characteristic of this disease. Hematodinium-infected crabs ranged in size from 12 to 74 mm carapace width. Overall, it is concluded that the high prevalence of infection of juvenile crabs in this area may have implications for the sustainability of the edible crab fishery in the Bristol Channel.

Keywords

edible crab fisheriesdisease ecologydecapod crustaceans
Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 142 , Issue 3 , March 2015 , pp. 428 - 438
Check for updates
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2014 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Bannister, R. C. A. (2010). On the management of brown crab fisheries. Shellfish Association of Great Britain.Google Scholar
Bateman, K. S., Hicks, R. J. and Stentiford, G. D. (2011). Disease profile differ between non-fished and fished populations of edible crab (Cancer pagurus) from a major commercial fishery. ICES Journal of Marine Science 68, 2044–2052.Google Scholar
Behringer, D. C. (2012). Diseases of wild and cultured juvenile crustaceans: insights from below the minimum landing size. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology 110, 225–233.Google Scholar
Bennett, D. B. and Brown, C. G. (1986). Crab (Cancer pagurus) migrations in the English Channel. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 63, 371–398.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Briggs, R. P. and McAliskey, M. (2002). The prevalence of in Nephrops norvegicus from the western Irish Sea. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 82, 427–433.Google Scholar
Burton, M. and Burton, R. (2002). Edible crab. In International Wildlife Encyclopedia, 3rd edn, pp. 471–472. Marshall Cavendish, New York, USA.Google Scholar
Field, R. H., Chapman, C. J., Taylor, A. C., Neil, D. M. and Vickerman, K. (1992). Infection of the Norway lobster Nephrops norvegicus by a Hematodinium-like species of dinoflagellate on the west coast of Scotland. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 13, 1–15.Google Scholar
Field, R. H., Hills, J. M., Atkinson, R. J. A., Magill, S. and Shanks, A. M. (1998). Distribution and seasonal prevalence of Hematodinium sp. infection of the Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) around the west coast of Scotland. ICES Journal of Marine Science 55, 846–858.Google Scholar
Fish, J. D. and Fish, S. (1989). A Student's Guide to the Seashore, 3rd edn. Unwin and Hyman, London.Google Scholar
Frischer, M. E., Lee, R. F., Sheppard, M. A., Mauer, A., Rambow, F., Neumann, M., Brofft, J. E., Wizenmann, T. and Danforth, J. M. (2006). Evidence of free-living life stage of the blue crab parasitic dinoflagellate, Hematodinium sp. Harmful Algae 5, 548–557.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gornik, S. G., Cranenburgh, A. and Waller, R. F. (2013). New host range for Hematodinium in Southern Australia and novel tools for sensitive detection of parasitic dinoflagellates. PLoS ONE 8, e82774.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hamilton, K. M., Tew, I. F., Atkinson, R. J. A. and Roberts, E. C. (2011). Occurrence of the parasite genus Hematodinium (Alveolata: Syndinea) in the water column. Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology 58, 446–451.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hudson, D. A. and Shields, J. D. (1994). Hematodinium australis n. sp., a parasitic dinoflagellate of the sand crab Portunus pelagicus from Moreton Bay, Australia. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 19, 109–119.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hunter, E., Eaton, D., Stewart, C., Lawler, A. and Smith, M. T. (2013). Edible crabs “go west”: migrations and incubation cycle of Cancer pagurus revealed by electronic tags. PLoS ONE 8, e63991.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lee, R. F. and Frischer, M. E. (2004). The decline of the blue crab. American Scientist 92, 548–553.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Li, C., Shields, J. D., Miller, T., Small, H. J., Pagenkopp, K. M. and Reece, K. S. (2010). Detection and quantification of the free-living stage of the parasitic dinoflagellate Hematodinium sp. in laboratory and environmental samples. Harmful Algae 9, 515–521.Google Scholar
Li, C., Wheeler, K. N. and Shields, J. D. (2011). Lack of transmission of Hematodinium sp. in the blue crab Callinectes sapidus through cannibalism. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 96, 249–258.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Li, C., Song, S., Liu, Y. and Chen, T. (2013). Hematodinium infections in cultured Chinese swimming crab, Portunus trituberculatus, in northern China. Aquaculture 396, 59–65.Google Scholar
Mascaró, M. and Seed, R. (2001). Foraging behavior of juvenile Carcinus maenas (L.) and Cancer pagurus L. Marine Biology 139, 1135–1145.Google Scholar
Messick, G. A. (1994). Hematodinium perezi infections in adult and juvenile blue crabs Callinectes sapidus from coastal bays of Maryland and Virginia, USA. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 19, 77–82.Google Scholar
Messick, G. A. and Shields, J. D. (2000). Epizootiology of the parasitic dinoflagellate Hematodinium sp. in the American blue crab Callinectes sapidus . Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 43, 139–152.Google Scholar
Marine Management Organisation (MMO) (2011). The UK Fishing Industry in 2010: Landings, A National Statistics Publication.Google Scholar
Morado, J. F. (2011). Protistan diseases of commercially important crabs: a review. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology 106, 27–53.Google Scholar
Morado, J. F., Dawe, E. G., Mullowney, D., Shavey, C. A., Lowe, V. C. and Cawthorn, R. J. (2010). Climate change and the worldwide emergence of Hematodinium-associated disease: is there evidence for a relationship? In Biology and Management of Exploited Crab Populations under Climate Change (ed. Kruse, G. H., Eckert, G. L., Foy, R. J., Lipcius, R. N., Sainte-Marie, B., Stram, D. L. and Woodby, D.), pp. 153–173. Alaska Sea Grant, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, USA.Google Scholar
Morado, J. F., Siddeek, M. S. M., Mullowney, D. R. and Dawe, E. G. (2012). Protistan parasites as mortality drivers in cold water crab fisheries. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology 110, 201–210.Google Scholar
Mullowney, D. R., Dawe, E. G., Morado, J. F. and Cawthorn, R. J. (2011). Sources of variability in prevalence and distribution of bitter crab disease in snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) along the northeast coast of Newfoundland. ICES Journal of Marine Science 68, 463–471.Google Scholar
Pagenkopp Lohan, K. M., Reece, K. S., Miller, T. L., Wheeler, K. N., Small, H. J. and Shields, J. D. (2012). The role of alternate hosts in the ecology and life history of Hematodinium sp. a parasitic dinoflagellate of the blue crab (Callinectes sapidus). Journal of Parasitology 98, 73–84.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rowley, A. F., Cross, M., Culloty, S. C., Lynch, S. A., Mackenzie, C. L., Morgan, E., O'Riordan, R. M., Robins, P. E., Smith, A. L., Thrupp, T. J., Vogan, C. L., Wootton, E. C. and Malham, S. K. (2014). The potential impact of climate change on the infectious diseases of the commercially important shellfish populations in the Irish Sea – a review. ICES Journal of Marine Science 71, 741–759.Google Scholar
Shields, J. D. and Squyars, C. M. (2000). Mortality and hematology of blue crabs, Callinectes sapidus, experimentally infected with the parasitic dinoflagellate Hematodinium perezi . Fisheries Bulletin 98, 139–152.Google Scholar
Shields, J. D., Scanlon, C. and Volety, A. (2003). Aspects of the pathophysiology of blue crabs, Callinectes sapidus, infected with the parasitic dinoflagellate Hematodinium perezi . Bulletin of Marine Science 72, 519–535.Google Scholar
Shields, J. D., Taylor, D. M., Sutton, S. G., O'Keefe, P. G., Ings, D. W. and Pardy, A .L. (2005). Epidemiology of bitter crab disease (Hematodinium sp.) in snow crabs Chionoectes opilio from Newfoundland, Canada. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 64, 253–264.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shields, J. D., Taylor, D. M., O'Keefe, P. G., Colbourne, E. and Hynick, E. (2007). Epidemiological determinants in outbreaks of bitter crab disease (Hematodinium sp.) in snow crabs, Chionoecetes opilio from Newfoundland, Canada. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 77, 61–72.Google Scholar
Siddeek, A. S. M., Zheng, J., Morado, J. F., Kruse, G. H. and Bechtol, W. R. (2010). Effect of bitter crab disease on rebuilding in Alaska Tanner crab stocks. ICES Journal of Marine Science 67, 2027–2032.Google Scholar
Silva, A. C. F., Boaventura, D. M., Thompson, R. C. and Hawkins, S. J. (2014). Spatial and temporal patterns of subtidal and intertidal crab excursions. Journal of Sea Research 85, 343–348.Google Scholar
Small, H. J. (2012). Advances in our understanding of the global diversity and distribution of Hematodinium spp. – significant pathogens of commercially exploited crustaceans. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology 110, 234–246.Google Scholar
Smith, A. L., Hamilton, K. M., Hirschle, L., Wootton, E. C., Vogan, C. L., Pope, E. C., Eastwood, D. C. and Rowley, A. F. (2013). Characterization and molecular epidemiology of a fungal infection of edible crabs (Cancer pagurus) and interaction of the fungus with the dinoflagellate parasite Hematodinium . Applied and Environmental Microbiology 79, 783–793.Google Scholar
Smith, A. L., Whitten, M. A. A., Hirschle, L., Pope, E. C., Wootton, E. C., Vogan, C. L. and Rowley, A. F. (2014). Bacterial septicaemia in prerecruit edible crabs, Cancer pagurus L. Journal of Fish Diseases 37, 729–737. doi: 10.1111/jfd.12163.Google Scholar
Stentiford, G. D. (2008). Diseases of the European edible crab (Cancer pagurus): a review. ICES Journal of Marine Science 65, 1578–1592.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stentiford, G. D. and Shields, J. D. (2005). A review of the parasitic dinoflagellates Hematodinium species and Hematodinium-like infections in marine crustaceans. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 66, 47–70.Google Scholar
Stentiford, G. D., Neil, D. M. and Atkinson, R. J. A. (2001 a). The relationship of Hematodinium infections prevalence in a Scottish Nephrops norvegicus population to season, moulting and sex. ICES Journal of Marine Science 58, 814–823.Google Scholar
Stentiford, G. D., Chang, E. S., Chang, S. A. and Neil, D. M. (2001 b). Carbohydrate dynamics and the crustacean hyperglycaemic hormone (CHH): effects of parasitic infection in Norway lobsters (Nephrops norvegicus). General and Comparative Endocrinology 121, 13–22.Google Scholar
Stentiford, G. D., Green, M., Bateman, K., Small, H. J., Neil, D. M. and Feist, S. W. (2002). Infection by a Hematodinium-like parasitic dinoflagellate causes Pink Crab Disease (PCD) in the edible crab Cancer pagurus . Journal of Invertebrate Pathology 79, 179–191.Google Scholar
Walker, A. N., Lee, R. F. and Frischer, M. E. (2009). Transmission of the parasitic dinoflagellate Hematodinium sp. infection in blue crabs Callinectes sapidus by cannibalism. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 85, 193–197.Google Scholar
Wilhelm, G. and Miahle, E. (1996). Dinoflagellate infection associated with the decline in Necora puber crab populations in France. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 26, 213–219.Google Scholar
Supplementary material: File

Smith Supplementary Material

Supplementary Material

Download Smith Supplementary Material(File)
File 18.8 MB