Non-specific Defensive Factors of the Pacific Oyster Crassostrea gigas against Infection with Marteilioides chungmuensis: A Flow-Cytometric Study

• Published in: The Korean Journal of Parasitology
• Main Authors: Choi, Hee Jung, Hwang, Jee Youn, Choi, Dong Lim, Huh, Min Do, Hur, Young Baek, Lee, Nam-Sil, Seo, Jung Soo, Kwon, Mun Gyeong, Choi, Hye-Sung, Park, Myoung Ae
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: The Korean Society for Parasitology 2011
• Subjects: Original Article; Pacific; Crassostrea gigas; Pacific oyster
• Online Access: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3210839; http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22072822; https://doi.org/10.3347/kjp.2011.49.3.229

In order to assess changes in the activity of immunecompetency present in Crassostrea gigas infected with Marteilioides chungmuensis (Protozoa), the total hemocyte counts (THC), hemocyte populations, hemocyte viability, and phagocytosis rate were measured in oysters using flow cytometry. THC were increased significantly in oysters infected with M. chungmuensis relative to the healthy appearing oysters (HAO) (P<0.05). Among the total hemocyte composition, granulocyte levels were significantly increased in infected oysters as compared with HAO (P<0.05). In addition, the hyalinocyte was reduced significantly (P<0.05). The hemocyte viability did not differ between infected oysters and HAO. However, the phagocytosis rate was significantly higher in infected oysters relative to HAO (P<0.05). The measurement of alterations in the activity of immunecompetency in oysters, which was conducted via flow cytometry in this study, might be a useful biomarker of the defense system for evaluating the effects of ovarian parasites of C. gigas.