Document Type

Article

Department/Program

Virginia Institute of Marine Science

Publication Date

1993

Journal

Journal Of Shellfish Research

Volume

12

Issue

1

First Page

21

Last Page

27

Abstract

The development of infection caused by the protozoan parasite, Perkinsus marinus (Dermo) and some specific potential defense-related cellular and humoral components in oysters collected from three geographic areas, Deepwater Shoal of James River (DW), Wachapreague (WP), and Mobjack Bay (MJ) were examined over time. Oysters were maintained in estuarine water (salinity = 20 ppt) or in water at a salinity similar to the ambient salinity of the collection sites. Oysters were sampled at the initiation of the experiment (day 0), day 35, and day 100 to determine defense-related parameters and disease prevalence and intensity. All populations experienced a significant increase in P. marinus infection prevalence and intensity from the initiation of the experiment to the termination of the study. Oyster mortality differed between oyster populations. None of the DW oysters perished while cumulative mortalities for WP at 32 ppt and 20 ppt and MJ oysters were respectively, 23, 25, and 35%. The experimental oyster populations demonstrated significant differences with respect to cellular and humoral defense-related variables. As the study progressed, the mean number of total hemocytes declined in the WP and MJ populations and increased in the DW population. The percentage of granulocytes in DW oysters was consistently higher than other populations. DW oysters also had the highest concentrations of protein and lysozyme. This pattern persisted throughout the experimental period. Oyster condition index significantly decreased during the course of the study in all populations except the DW oysters at 10 ppt. Results suggest that the increase of hemocyte number and higher percentage of granulocytes, and lysozyme concentration in DW oysters may have contributed to the high (100%) survival rate of this population. Salinity may have affected disease development. Disease prevalence and intensity tended to be lower in the WP oysters maintained at low salinity than those maintained at high salinity. In the DW population, unexpectedly, oysters maintained at 20 ppt had lower infection prevalence and intensity than oysters maintained at 10 ppt. Salinity induced, to some extent, changes in certain hemolymph components: lysozyme concentration tended to be higher in oysters maintained at low salinity than those maintained at high salinity. Increase in percentage of granulocytes was also observed in WP oysters after transferring to a salinity lower than ambient salinity.

Keywords

Oyster Disease; Hemolymph Factors; Perkinsus-Marinus

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