Prevalence and seasonality of Hematodinium (Alveolata: Syndinea) in a Scottish crustacean community

Abstract

Protist parasites of the genus Hematodinium were detected in seven crustacean species (Cancer pagurus, Carcinus maenas, Liocarcinus depurator, Munida rugosa, Necora puber, Pagurus bernhardus, and Pagurus prideaux) from the Clyde Sea in Scotland. Seasonal screening of different tissues with sensitive molecular probes showed average infection of 3-23, with prevalence reaching almost 60 in hermit crabs (P. bernhardus) and brachyuran hosts in spring and >30 in C. pagurus and N. puber in autumn. During summer, Hematodinium infections were rare. Hematodinium seemed to be present in all host sizes sampled. The infection was equally distributed between males and females in most host species, except C. maenas, where males seemed to be more susceptible to infection. PCR amplification of the Hematodinium ribosomal RNA gene in crustacean tissue detected the parasite most frequently in muscle, gills, and heart throughout the 2-year sampling period. © 2009 International Council for the Exploration of the Sea. Published by Oxford Journals. All rights reserved.