Gonadal Degeneration and Hepatopancreas Alteration in Orange Mud Crab Scylla olivacea Infected With Sacculina beauforti (Crustacea; Rhizocephala; Sacculinidae)

Hanafiah Fazhan, Khor Waiho*, Henrik Glenner, Julia Hwei Zhong Moh, Marina Hassan, Mhd Ikhwanuddin

*Corresponding author af dette arbejde

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Abstract

Infestation of Sacculina beauforti on an aquaculture species, mud crab Scylla olivacea is alarming due to its high prevalence and the extreme morphological changes in hosts. To further understand its pathological effect on growth and reproduction of S. olivacea, gonadal and hepatopancreatic histological changes of infected individuals were compared with healthy individuals. Also, the histological characteristics of S. beauforti's mature externa was described. Hepatopancreases of infected individuals were loosely packed and rootlets were observed in the intertubular spaces. Although hepatopancreatic tubule count was significantly lower, tubule diameters were unaffected. Gonads, however, were severely affected. No germ cells were found in the infected testes (except for remnants of spermatozoa), indicating the arrest of spermatogenesis. Rootlets were also present in testes of infected individuals. Ovarian tissues of infected females were severely damaged with no rigid cell structures. Gonadosomatic index (GSI) of infected males and females were lower, but the hepatosomatic index (HSI) were higher than their healthy counterparts. No significant differences in GSI and HSI values were observed among infected males and females. Multiple regression analysis revealed that carapace width, GSI and HSI are statistically important for the prediction of infection status. Given the high prevalence of S. beauforti infection and its disruptive effects on the morphology and internal physiology of S. olivacea, this study, albeit fundamental and incomprehensive, highlights to farmers and researchers the emergence of a castrating parasite and the urgency for the development of preventive measures and treatments for this disease in an economically important aquaculture species.

OriginalsprogEngelsk
Artikelnummer534443
TidsskriftFrontiers in Marine Science
Vol/bind7
Antal sider9
ISSN2296-7745
DOI
StatusUdgivet - 2020

Bibliografisk note

Funding Information:
This work is supported by the Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysia, under the Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (59617) (FRGS/1/2020/STG03/UMT/03/2).

Funding Information:
We are grateful to Suhairi Mazelan for his help in editing and merging of the externa's histological sections. We thank Institute of Tropical Aquaculture and Fisheries, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu for providing the facilities needed for this study. Funding. This work is supported by the Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysia, under the Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (59617) (FRGS/1/2020/STG03/UMT/03/2).

Publisher Copyright:
© Copyright © 2020 Fazhan, Waiho, Glenner, Moh, Hassan and Ikhwanuddin.

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