Spatial and temporal disease dynamics of the parasite Hematodinium sp. in shore crabs, Carcinus maenas

• Main Authors: Davies, Charlotte, Batista, Frederico, Malkin, Sophie, Thomas, Jessica, Bryan, Charlotte, Crocombe, Peter, Coates, Christopher, Rowley, Andrew
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: figshare 2019
• Subjects: Medicine; Microbiology; FOS Biological sciences; 59999 Environmental Sciences not elsewhere classified; FOS Earth and related environmental sciences; Ecology; Immunology; FOS Clinical medicine; Cancer; Inorganic Chemistry; FOS Chemical sciences; Computational Biology; North East Atlantic
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.4696316.v1; https://springernature.figshare.com/collections/Spatial_and_temporal_disease_dynamics_of_the_parasite_Hematodinium_sp_in_shore_crabs_Carcinus_maenas/4696316/1

Abstract Background The parasitic dinoflagellates of the genus Hematodinium represent the causative agent of so-called bitter or pink crab disease in a broad range of shellfish taxa. Outbreaks of Hematodinium-associated disease can devastate local fishing and aquaculture efforts. The goal of our study was to examine the potential role of the common shore (green) crab Carcinus maenas as a reservoir for Hematodinium. Carcinus maenas is native to all shores of the UK and Ireland and the North East Atlantic but has been introduced to, and subsequently invaded waters of, the USA, South Africa and Australia. This species is notable for its capacity to harbour a range of micro- and macro-parasites, and therefore may act as a vector for disease transfer. Methods Over a 12-month period, we interrogated 1191 crabs across two distinct locations (intertidal pier, semi-closed dock) in Swansea Bay (Wales, UK) for the presence and severity of Hematodinium in the haemolymph, gills, hepatopancreas and surrounding waters (eDNA) using PCR-based methods, haemolymph preparations and histopathology. Results Overall, 13.6% were Hematodinium-positive via PCR and confirmed via tissue examination. Only a small difference was observed between locations with 14.4% and 12.8% infected crabs in the Dock and Pier, respectively. Binomial logistic regression models revealed seasonality (P