Parasite co-infection of two sympatric bivalves, the Manila clam (Ruditapes philippinarum) and the cockle (Cerastoderma edule) along a latitudinal gradient

Abstract

. Parasite coinfection of two sympatric bivalves, the Manila clam (Ruditapes philippinarum) and the cockle (Cerastoderma edule) along a latitudinal gradient. Aquatic Living Resources, EDP Sciences, 2007, 20, pp.33-42. <10.1051/alr:2007013>. <hal-00645736> Aquat. Living Resour. 20, 33-42 (2007 Abstract -Among the potential biotic factors affecting population dynamics, parasitism has received relatively little attention. The purpose of this study was to inventory marine bivalve parasites and to investigate relations between different parasite communities. Five intertidal stations along the French Atlantic shore were studied between Brittany and Arcachon Bay. Two bivalves (the edible cockle, Cerastoderma edule, and the Manila clam, Ruditapes philippinarum) were sampled and examined. The parasites included a bacterium (Vibrio tapetis), a protozoan (Perkinsus sp.), and digenetic trematode metacercariae (10 species). Perkinsus sp. prevalence and density in clams were higher than those measured in cockles (30 250 vs. 36 cells g −1 of gill wet weight, respectively) while digeneans were more common in cockles (46 metacercariae per cockle host vs. 1 per clam host). Distributions of digeneans and Perkinsus sp. were similar along the Atlantic shore. However, at each sampling station and at the individual scale, no correlation between Perkinsus sp. and digenean abundance was detected. These results suggest different ecological niches used by these two parasites within a community of bivalves but a similar response to environmental factors such as temperature and salinity. Vibrio tapetis was found at relatively high prevalence in all stations for both bivalve species (from 17% to 43% in cockles and from 23% to 50% in clams), but was associated with a low prevalence of Brown Ring Disease (BRD), a shell disease caused by this pathogen. No statistically significant relationship of these parasitic bacteria with trematodes and Perkinsus sp. was evidenced in the present study. Key words:Bivalve mollusc / Digenea /Parasites / Host specificity / Infectivity / NE Atlantic Ocean Résumé -Co-infestation de parasites chez deux mollusques bivalves, la palourde (Ruditapes philippinarum) et la coque (Cerastoderma edule) le long d'un gradient latitudinal. Parmi les facteurs biotiques pouvant affecter la dynamique de populations, le parasitisme a reçu relativement peu d'attention. Le but de cette étude est d'inventorier les parasites de bivalves marins et de rechercher les relations entre les différentes communautés de parasites. Cinq stations intertidales le long du littoral français, entre la Bretagne et la baie d'Arcachon, ont été étudiées. Deux espèces de bivalves, la coque (Cerastoderma edule) et la palourde (Ruditapes philippinarum) ont été échantillonnées et examinées. Les parasites présents sont une bactérie (Vibrio tapetis), un protozoaire (Perkinsus sp.) et des métacercaires de trématodes digènes (10 espèces). La prévalence et la densité de Perkinsus sp. dans les palourdes sont supérieures à celles mesurées pour les coques (30 25...

Spatio-temporal patterns of perkinsosis in the Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum from Arcachon Bay (SW France)

“…The increasing north-south latitudinal gradient of Perkinsus sp. abundance reported by Lassalle et al (2007) confirmed that this protozoan prefers higher temperatures. Chu et al (1996) and Park & Choi (2001) reported that high water temperatures enhance infection intensity and prevalence of P. marinus.…”

“…In Europe, Perkinsus sp. was found in R. philippinarum in Spain (Navas et al 1992), Italy (Da Ros & Canzonier 1985, Da Ros et al 1998 and France (Lassalle et al 2007).…”

“…Previous studies gave an instantaneous picture of Perkinsus sp. infection in Arcachon Bay (Fouche et al 1997, Lassalle et al 2007). The aims of this study were to (1) map the infection distribution in 34 stations throughout Arcachon Bay; (2) survey Perkinsus sp.…”

Digenean larvae parasitizing Ruditapes decussatus (Bivalvia) from Tunisianan coasts

“…R. decussatus from Arcachon Bay is colonized only with 4 species (Curtuteria arguinae, Himasthla sp., M. fossarum, unknown metacercariae). Compared to Ruditapes philippinarum from Arcachon Bay (Dang, 2009) and from the French Atlantic shore (Lassalle et al, 2007), R. decussatus from our coasts is elsewhere more infected; manila clams were respectively infected only by 3 species (Curtuteria arguinae and Himasthla continua, Psilostomum brevicole) and 5 species (Himasthla quissetensis, H. interrupta, H. elongate, Curtuteria arguinae, Psilostomum brevicolle). The digenean diversity of R. decussatus from Tunisian coasts, relatively more important, is undoubtedly related to the strategic situation of Tunisia, that representing a transition zone between the western and eastern Mediterranean, undergoes the infl uence of the Atlantic through the straits of Gibraltar and of the Red Sea via the Suez canal.…”

Brown Muscle Disease and Manila ClamRuditapes philippinarumDynamics in Arcachon Bay, France

“…Brown Muscle Disease (BMD) appeared as a prevalent pathology for Manila clams in Arcachon Bay where it can be considered as the second disease in term of prevalence, behind perkinsosis (Lassalle et al 2007), but before helminthosis (Dang et al Submitted) or brown ring disease (Lassalle et al 2007). BMD affected adult Manila clams only (>25 mm or >2 y).…”