How Does the Dinoflagellate Parasite Hematodinium Outsmart the Immune System of Its Crustacean Hosts?

Rowley, Andrew F.; Smith, Amanda L.; Davies, Charlotte E.

doi:10.1371/journal.ppat.1004724

Cited by 24 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…2a–c). There was no evidence of any direct host response to the presence of Hematodinium in the tissues such as encapsulation/nodule formation [37]. Where encapsulation of damaged or necrotic host tissues did occur, i.e.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial and temporal disease dynamics of the parasite Hematodinium sp. in shore crabs, Carcinus maenas

et al. 2019

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Background The parasitic dinoflagellates of the genus Hematodinium represent the causative agent of so-called bitter or pink crab disease in a broad range of shellfish taxa. Outbreaks of Hematodinium-associated disease can devastate local fishing and aquaculture efforts. The goal of our study was to examine the potential role of the common shore (green) crab Carcinus maenas as a reservoir for Hematodinium. Carcinus maenas is native to all shores of the UK and Ireland and the North East Atlantic but has been introduced to, and subsequently invaded waters of, the USA, South Africa and Australia. This species is notable for its capacity to harbour a range of micro- and macro-parasites, and therefore may act as a vector for disease transfer. Methods Over a 12-month period, we interrogated 1191 crabs across two distinct locations (intertidal pier, semi-closed dock) in Swansea Bay (Wales, UK) for the presence and severity of Hematodinium in the haemolymph, gills, hepatopancreas and surrounding waters (eDNA) using PCR-based methods, haemolymph preparations and histopathology. Results Overall, 13.6% were Hematodinium-positive via PCR and confirmed via tissue examination. Only a small difference was observed between locations with 14.4% and 12.8% infected crabs in the Dock and Pier, respectively. Binomial logistic regression models revealed seasonality (P < 0.002) and sex (P < 0.001) to be significant factors in Hematodinium detection with peak infection recorded in spring (March to May). Male crabs overall were more likely to be infected. Phylogenetic analyses of the partial ITS and 18S rRNA gene regions of Hematodinium amplified from crabs determined the causative agent to be the host generalist Hematodinium sp., which blights several valuable crustaceans in the UK alone, including edible crabs (Cancer pagurus) and langoustines (Nephrops norvegicus). Conclusions Shore crabs were infected with the host generalist parasite Hematodinium sp. in each location tested, thereby enabling the parasite to persist in an environment shared with commercially important shellfish.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial and temporal disease dynamics of the parasite Hematodinium sp. in shore crabs, Carcinus maenas

et al. 2019

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“…There are several examples of this phenomena in other infections within crustaceans. For instance, the dinoflagellate Hematodinium sp., a parasite of over 40 species of crustaceans, does not elicit any cellular host response (Rowley et al ., 2015 ). Similarly, rickettsia-like bacteria also multiply in crabs inside fixed phagocytes in the hepatopancreas and hence can ‘hide’ away from the immune system (Eddy et al ., 2007 ; Wang, 2011 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diagnosis and prevalence of two new species of haplosporidians infecting shore crabsCarcinus maenas:Haplosporidium carcinin. sp., andH. crancn. sp.

et al. 2020

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This study provides a morphological and phylogenetic characterization of two novel species of the order Haplosporida (Haplosporidium carcini n. sp., and H. cranc n. sp.) infecting the common shore crab Carcinus maenas collected at one location in Swansea Bay, South Wales, UK. Both parasites were observed in the haemolymph, gills and hepatopancreas. The prevalence of clinical infections (i.e. parasites seen directly in fresh haemolymph preparations) was low, at ~1%, whereas subclinical levels, detected by polymerase chain reaction, were slightly higher at ~2%. Although no spores were found in any of the infected crabs examined histologically (n = 334), the morphology of monokaryotic and dikaryotic unicellular stages of the parasites enabled differentiation between the two new species. Phylogenetic analyses of the new species based on the small subunit (SSU) rDNA gene placed H. cranc in a clade of otherwise uncharacterized environmental sequences from marine samples, and H. carcini in a clade with other crustacean-associated lineages.

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“…Besides, apicomplexan parasites could hijack host immune defense functions to their benefit by subverting their host's miRNAs (Hakimi and Cannella 2011). Similarly, the Hematodinium parasite may also possess immune evading ability to outsmart the host immune defenses at a certain life cycle stage (Rowley et al 2015). Thus, further studies may be needed to emphasize the stage-specific immune responses of affected hosts against the parasitic infections and to reveal the possible evading mechanisms of Hematodinium.…”

Section: The Pathogenesis Of Hematodinium Sppmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…More recently, the parasite has developed into an emerging cause of epidemics affecting the wild populations of economic valuable marine crustaceans in western countries and also the sustainable yield of farmed major crabs in China Morado et al 2012;Shields 2012;Small 2012;Wang et al 2017a, b). The epidemics caused by Hematodinium parasite were comparable to the catastrophic viral diseases in shrimp and gaffkemia infection in the American lobster in terms of their impact to fisheries and host populations (Morado et al 2012;Rowley et al 2015;Stentiford and Shields 2005). More alarmingly, Hematodinium sp.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

The parasitic dinoflagellate Hematodinium infects marine crustaceans

Huang

2021

Mar Life Sci Technol

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Hematodinium is a type of parasitic dinoflagellate that infects marine crustaceans globally. The parasite lives mainly in the hemolymph or hemocoels of affected hosts, and results in mortalities due to malfunction or loss of functions of major organs. In recent years, the parasite had developed into an emerging epidemic pathogen not only affecting wild populations of economically valuable marine crustaceans in western countries but also the sustainable yield of aquaculture of major crabs in China. The epidemics of the parasitic diseases expanded recently in the coastal waters of China, and caused frequent outbreaks in aquaculture of major crab species, especially Portunus trituberculatus and Scylla paramamosain. In addition, the pathogen infected two species of co-cultured shrimps and multiple cohabitating wild crabs, implying it is a significant threat to the sustainable culture of commercially valuable marine crustaceans. In particular, the polyculture system that is widely used along the coast of China may facilitate the spread and transmission of the pathogen. Thus, to provide a better understanding of the biological and ecological characteristics of the parasitic dinoflagellate and highlight important directions for future research, we have reviewed the current knowledge on the taxonomy, life cycle, pathogenesis, transmission and epidemiology of Hematodinium spp. Moreover, ecological countermeasures have been proposed for the prevention and control of the emerging infectious disease.

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How Does the Dinoflagellate Parasite Hematodinium Outsmart the Immune System of Its Crustacean Hosts?

Cited by 24 publications

References 39 publications

Spatial and temporal disease dynamics of the parasite Hematodinium sp. in shore crabs, Carcinus maenas

Spatial and temporal disease dynamics of the parasite Hematodinium sp. in shore crabs, Carcinus maenas

Diagnosis and prevalence of two new species of haplosporidians infecting shore crabsCarcinus maenas:Haplosporidium carcinin. sp., andH. crancn. sp.

The parasitic dinoflagellate Hematodinium infects marine crustaceans

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