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Changes in Total Hemocyte and Differential Counts in Dungeness Crabs Infected with Mesanophrys pugettensis , a Marine Facultative Parasitic Ciliate
Author(s) -
Cain Therese A.,
Morado J. Frank
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
journal of aquatic animal health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.507
H-Index - 52
eISSN - 1548-8667
pISSN - 0899-7659
DOI - 10.1577/1548-8667(2001)013<0310:cithad>2.0.co;2
Subject(s) - ciliate , biology , hemocyte , facultative , hemolymph , crustacean , zoology , microbiology and biotechnology , ecology , immunology , immune system
Hemocytopenia is a routinely reported phenomenon of advanced ciliate infections of crustaceans, but the course of infection and the progression of hemocyte loss have not been investigated. The rate and pattern of hemocyte loss in Dungeness crabs Cancer magister experimentally infected with the marine facultative parasitic ciliate Mesanophrys pugettensis , are presented. Total hemocyte counts were significantly reduced by day 6 postinjection. By day 8, the proliferating ciliate was the most abundant cell in the hemolymph of infected crabs. Differential hemocyte counts demonstrated that intermediate granulocytes were more rapidly removed than eosinophilic granulocytes. Hyalinocytes were the least abundant hemocyte and were removed at a slower rate than both intermediate and eosinophilic granulocytes. Ciliate densities at the end of the experiment (day 12) approached 2.5 × 10 6 cells/mL. The study demonstrates a rapid and complete depletion of hemocytes in ciliate‐infected crabs that precedes death. No ciliate‐infected crabs were able to recover from infection, and the pattern of hemocyte loss was diagnostic.