Pathology and reproductive health of queen conch (Lobatus gigas) in St. Kitts

Histology Atlas and Systematic Approach to Postmortem Examination of the Queen Conch Lobatus gigas

“…Typically, the kidney is brown, and the nephridial gland is slightly more orange-tan. The shade of brown coloration to the kidney varies, but this was not associated with any microscopic differences in the tissue (Tiley et al 2018a).…”

“…2B). They are usually a creamy-white color at rest but may appear yellow, orange, or even brick red (in males) when sexually active during the reproductive season (Tiley et al 2018a). The sex of the conch can be determined at this stage by examining the body for the presence of an egg groove, which extends from the mantle wall through the surface of the columellar muscle to the foot margin, in females or a verge (or penis) in males (Fig.…”

“…4C), and the features described in this histology atlas were observed at these sampling locations. In a survey of Lobatus gigas pathology, pathology most frequently involved the digestive gland, gonad, kidney, mantle, gill, and rectum (Tiley et al 2018a). Thus, histopathology efforts should be focused toward these tissues and those with important health implications (such as nervous tissue and heart), where resources are limited.…”

“…Foci of inflammation in the muscle of L. gigas have been grossly evident as orange-colored protrusions and were thought to be caused by digenean parasites (Cuartas et al 2018). Metazoan parasites also thought to be digenean cercaria were microscopically evident in the digestive gland, gill, rectum, and mantle of around 5% of L. gigas in St. Kitts (Tiley et al 2018a). Inflammation of the mantle may present as a nodule filled with caseous exudate (Tiley et al 2018a).…”

“…Metazoan parasites also thought to be digenean cercaria were microscopically evident in the digestive gland, gill, rectum, and mantle of around 5% of L. gigas in St. Kitts (Tiley et al 2018a). Inflammation of the mantle may present as a nodule filled with caseous exudate (Tiley et al 2018a). Proliferation of nerve fibers and neuronal apoptosis and loss were described in a population affected with reproductive failure (Glazer et al 2008).…”