title: The Use of Filter-feeders to Manage Disease in a Changing World.
abstract: Rapid environmental change is linked to increases in aquatic disease heightening the need to develop strategies to manage disease. Filter-feeding species are effective biofilters and can naturally mitigate disease risk to humans and wildlife. We review the role of filter-feeders, with an emphasis on bivalves, in altering disease outcomes via augmentation and reduction. Filtration can reduce transmission by removing pathogens from the water column via degradation and release of pathogens in pseudofeces. In other cases, filtration can increase pathogen transmission and disease risk. The effect of filtration on pathogen transmission depends on the selectivity of the filter-feeder, the degree of infectivity by the pathogen, the mechanism(s) of pathogen transmission and the ability of the pathogen to resist degradation. For example, some bacteria and viruses can resist degradation and accumulate within a filter-feeder leading to disease transmission to humans and other wildlife upon ingestion. Since bivalves can concentrate microorganisms, they are also useful as sentinels for the presence of pathogenic microorganisms. While somewhat less studied, other invertebrates, including ascidians and sponges may also provide ecosystem services by altering pathogen transmission. In all scenarios, climate change may affect the potential for filter-feeders to mitigate disease risk. We conclude that an assessment including empirical data and modeling of system-wide impacts should be conducted before selection of filter-feeders to mitigate disease. Such studies should consider physiology of the host and microbe and risk factors for negative impacts including augmentation of other pathogens.
authors.affiliation: *Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology, University of Maryland Baltimore County, 701 E Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21202, USA.
authors.forename: Colleen A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Burge
authors.affiliation: *Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology, University of Maryland Baltimore County, 701 E Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21202, USA School of Aquatic & Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Box 355020, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
authors.forename: Collin J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Closek
authors.affiliation: School of Aquatic & Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Box 355020, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
authors.forename: Carolyn S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Friedman
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Health, Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, PEI Canada Department of Fisheries Sciences, Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences, Gloucester Point, VA 23062, USA.
authors.forename: Maya L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Groner
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA.
authors.forename: Cody M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Jenkins
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA.
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shore-Maggio
authors.affiliation: **Department of Coastal Systems, NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute of Sea Research, 1790 AB, Den Burg, PO Box 59, Texel, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jennifer E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Welsh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D018407:Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000382:microbiology / Q000502:physiology* / Q000821:virology; D057231:Climate Change; D017753:Ecosystem; D005374:Filtration; D006801:Humans; D007448:Invertebrates / Q000502:physiology; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D018406:Virus Physiological Phenomena