title: Epizootiology of the parasitic dinoflagellate Hematodinium sp. in the American blue crab Callinectes sapidus.
abstract: Hematodinium sp. is a parasitic dinoflagellate that infects and kills blue crabs Callinectes sapidus. Periodic outbreaks of dinoflagellate infections with subsequent high host mortalities prompted a study of the epizootiology and distribution of the crab pathogen. Hemolymph samples from over 13000 crabs were assessed for infections over 8 yr. Moderate to high prevalences were found at several locations along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States. In the coastal bays of Maryland and Virginia, prevalence followed a seasonal pattern, with a sharp peak in late autumn. Infections were significantly more prevalent in crabs measuring less than 30 mm carapace width; host sex did not influence prevalence. Prevalences were highest in crabs collected from salinities of 26 to 30%o; no infected crabs were found in salinities below 11%o. Intensity of infection did not vary among crab sizes, molt stages, or sexes. Naturally and experimentally infected crabs died over 35 and 55 d in captivity, with a mean time to death of approximately 13 and 42 d, respectively. Several other crustaceans, including gammaridean amphipods, xanthid (mud) crabs, and the green crab Carcinus maenus, were found with Hematodinium-like infections. Considering its widespread distribution and high pathogenicity, we suggest that Hematodinium sp. represents a significant threat to blue crab populations in high salinity estuaries along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the USA.
authors.affiliation: National Ocean Service, Center for Coastal Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research, Cooperative Oxford Laboratory, Maryland, USA. gretchen.messick@noaa.gov
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Messick
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Shields
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001267:Atlantic Ocean; D003386:Brachyura / Q000469:parasitology*; D004141:Dinoflagellida / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D006458:Hemolymph / Q000469:parasitology; D012621:Seasons