Parasites affect hemocyte functionality in the hemolymph of the invasive Atlantic blue crab Callinectes sapidus from a coastal habitat of the Salento Peninsula (SE Italy)

Abstract

The blue crab Callinectes sapidus is an invasive alien species in the Mediterranean Sea. In native habitats, it is subjected to mortalities determined by different pathogens, including the dinoflagellate Hematodinium perezi, a parasite also affecting other brachyuran species. Specifically, Hematodinium-associated disease is acknowledged worldwide as an emerging infection for commercially important crustacean species, but the general diffusion in wild species is unknown. Here, a preliminary screening in C. sapidus hemolymph as well as in three indigenous crabs captured in SE Italy, evidenced the presence of unidentified protozoans in more than 70% of specimen, but the number of suspected Hematodinium cells was very low. The parasites occurrence affected C. sapidus hemocytes functionality, interfering with their role in innate immunity (i.e. phagocytosis or DOPA production). More studies are necessary in order to verify the impact of this alien brachyuran on invaded ecosystems as mediated by the spread of parasites and other pathogens.

Histopathology and Phylogeny of the Dinoflagellate Hematodinium perezi and the Epibiotic Peritrich Ciliate Epistylis sp. Infecting the Blue Crab Callinectes sapidus in the Eastern Mediterranean

“…infections were also detected on Russian coastlines, infecting crab species such as Paralithodes camtschaticus , Paralithodes platypus , Chinoecertes bairdi , and Paralithodes brevipes [ 61 , 62 ]. On the Atlantic European coast, H. perezi infections have been reported in crab species such as Carcinus maenas , Liocarcinus depurator , Portumnus latipes , Ovalipes ocellatus , C. sapidus , Cancer pagurus , Necorapuber , Pagurus bernhardus , Pagurus prideaux , Minuda rugosa , and Eriphia verrucose [ 13 , 63 , 64 , 65 , 66 , 67 , 68 ]. In the inner Mediterranean Sea, H. perezi infections have been documented in the Italian part of the Adriatic Sea and in Akyatan Lagoon, Turkey [ 13 , 69 ].…”

“…The Atlantic blue crab, Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1986 (Brachyura: Portunidae), is a highly mobile benthic predator distributed from Nova Scotia, Canada, to Brazil, economically supporting fisheries in the local coastal areas [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 ]. Beyond its large distribution range of the species in Atlantic coastlines, it has been reported as invader in the Mediterranean Sea [ 11 , 12 ].…”