Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Parasites and pathological conditions in the edible oyster, Crassostrea madrasensis (Preston), from the east and west coasts of India

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Parasitology Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A detailed pathological survey was carried out on the commercially important edible oyster, Crassostrea madrasensis (Preston), from two distinct coastal/brackish water ecosystems of south India. Samples were collected twice a year during wet and dry seasons from 2009 to 2012. Bacterial colonies in the form of prokaryotic inclusions, protozoans (Perkinsus beihaiensis, Nematopsis sp. and ciliates Sphenophrya sp. and Stegotricha sp.), metazoans (trematodes, turbellaria, cestodes and crustaceans) and shell parasites (Polydora spp. and Cliona spp.) along with various pathological conditions (digestive tubule atrophy, ceroid bodies, haemocytic infiltration, tissue necrosis and neoplastic disorders) were observed in C. madrasensis collected from two sites. Intensity, spatial and seasonal variations in infection prevalence and pathological effects on the host were studied. The protozoan parasite, P. beihaiensis; shell parasite, Polydora spp. and pathological condition, digestive gland atrophy were most prevalent in occurrence. High-intensity infections with P. beihaiensis, larval trematodes and Polydora spp. were found to cause significant impact on host physiology. All other parasites were observed with low mean prevalence and intensity. Karapad in Tuticorin bay, the site reported with marked pollution levels, exhibited higher number of parasitic taxa and high mean prevalence and intensity for pathological conditions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aguirre-Macedo ML, Sima Alarez RA, Roman-Magana MK, Guemez-Ricalde JI (2007) Parasite survey of the eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica in coastal lagoons of the southern Gulf of Mexico. J Aquat Anim Health 19:270–279

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Alagarswami K, Chellam A (1976) On fouling and boring organisms and mortality of pearl oysters in the farm at Veppalodai, Gulf of Mannar. Indian J Fish 23(1&2):10–22

    Google Scholar 

  • Apeti DA, Kim Y, Lauenstein G, Tull J, Warner R (2014) Occurrence of parasites and diseases in oysters and mussels of the U S coastal waters National Status and trends, the mussel watch monitoring program. NOAA technical memorandum NOSS/NCCOS 182, Silver Spring

  • Asha PS, Joshi KK, Diwakar K (2009) Incidence of fish mortality in Tuticorin Bay, Gulf of Mannar. J Mar Biol Assoc India 51(2):173–177

    Google Scholar 

  • Asha PS, Krishnakumar PK, Kaladharan P, Prema D, Diwakar K, Valsala KK, Bhat GS (2010) Heavy metal concentration in sea water, sediment and bivalves off Tuticorin. J Mar Biol Assoc India 52(1):48–54

    Google Scholar 

  • Berthe FCJ (2008) New approaches to effective mollusc health management. In: Bondad-Reantaso MG, Mohan CV, Crumlish M, Subasinghe RP (eds) Diseases in Asian aquaculture VI fish health section. Asian Fisheries Society, Manila, pp 343–352

    Google Scholar 

  • Bignell JP, Stentiford GD, Taylor NGH, Lyons BP (2011) Histopathology of mussels (Mytilus sp ) from the Tamar estuary, UK. Mar Environ Res 72:25–32

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Boehs G, Villalba A, Ceuta LO, Luz JR (2010) Parasites of three commercially exploited bivalve mollusc species of the estuarine region of the Cachoeira River (Ilheus, Bahia, Brazil). J Invertebr Pathol 103:43–47

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bower SM, Mc Gladdery SE, Price IM (1994) Synopsis of infectious diseases and parasites of commercially exploited shellfish. Annu Rev Fish Dis 4:1–199

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bush AO, Lafferty KD, Lotz JM, Shostak AW (1997) Parasitology meets ecology on its own terms: Margolis et al. revisited. J Parasitol 83:575–583

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Carballal MJ, Iglesias D, Santamarina J, Ferro-Soto B, Villalba A (2001) Parasites and pathologic conditions of the cockle Cerastoderma edule populations of the coast of Galicia (NW Spain). J Invertebr Pathol 78:87–97

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Carella F, Feist S, Bignell J, De Vico G (2015) Comparative pathology in bivalves: etiological agents and disease processes. J Invertebr Pathol 131:107–120

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Carnegie RB, Burreson EM, Hine PM, Stokes NA, Audemard C, Bishop MJ, Peterson CH (2006) Bonamia perspora n sp. (Haplosporidia), a parasite of the oyster Ostreola equestris, is the first Bonamia species known to produce spores. J Eukaryot Microbiol 53:232–245

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Casas SM, Villalba A, Reece KS (2002) Study of the perkinsosis of the carpet shell clam Tapes decussatus in Galicia (NW Spain) identification of the etiological agent and in vitro modulation of zoosporulation by temperature and salinity. Dis Aquat Org 50:51–65

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ceuta LO, Boehs G (2012) Parasites of mangrove mussel Mytella guyanensis (Bivalvia: Mytilidae) of Camamu Bay, Bahia, Brazil. Braz J Biol 72(3):421–427

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Craig A, Powell E, Fay R, Brooks JM (1989) Distribution of Perkinsus marinus in gulf coast oyster populations. Estuaries 12:82–91

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cremonte F, Figueras A, Burreson EM (2005) A histopathological survey of some commercially exploited bivalve molluscs in northern Patagonia, Argentina. Aquaculture 249:23–33

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • da Silva PM, Fuentes J, Villalba A (2011) Disseminated neoplasia in flat oysters Ostrea edulis from Galicia (NW Spain): occurrence, ultrastructural aspects and relationship with bonamiosis. J Invertebr Pathol 107:50–59

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • da Silva PM, Scardua MP, Vianna RT, Mendonca RC, Vieira CB, Dungan CF, Scott GP, Reece KS (2014) Two Perkinsus spp. infect Crassostrea gasar oysters from cultured and wild populations of the Rio São Francisco estuary, Sergipe, northeastern Brazil. J Invertebr Pathol 119:62–71

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Darriba S, Iglesias D, Ruiz M, Rodriguez R, Lopez C (2010) Histopathological survey of symbionts and other conditions in razor clam Ensis arcuatus (Jeffreys, 1865) (Pharidae) of the coast of Galicia (NW Spain). J Invertebr Pathol 104:23–30

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • De Vico G, Carella F (2012) Morphological features of the inflammatory response in molluscs. Res Vet Sci 93:1109–1115

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dinamani P (1986) Potential disease-causing organisms associated with mantle cavity of Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas in northern New Zealand. Dis Aquat Org 2:55–63

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Erasmus DA (1972) The biology of trematodes. Edward Arnold, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Figueras AJ, Jardon CF, Caldas JR (1991) Diseases and parasites of rafted mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis Lmk): preliminary results. Aquaculture 99:17–33

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ghode GS, Kripa V (2001) Polydora infestation of Crassostrea madrasensis : a study on the infestation rate and eradication methods. J Mar Biol Assoc India 43(1–2):110–119

    Google Scholar 

  • Gosling E (2004) Bivalve molluscs: biology, ecology and culture. Blackwell Science, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Gulka G, Chang PW, Marti KA (1983) Prokaryotic infection associated with a mass mortality of the sea scallop, Placopecten magellanicus. J Fish Dis 6:355–364

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Joseph MM (1978) Observation on the larval trematode Bucephalus sp. parasitic in the oyster Crassostrea madrasensis. J Invertebr Pathol 32:381–383

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim Y, Ashton-Alcox KA, Powell EN (2006) Histological techniques for marine bivalve molluscs: update silver spring, MD NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS NCCOS pp 27–76

  • Lassudrie M, Wikfors GH, Sunila I, Alix JH, Dixon MS, Combot D, Soudant P, Fabioux C, Hegaret H (2015) Physiological and pathological changes in the eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica infested with the trematode Bucephalus sp and exposed to the toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium fundyense. J Invertebr Pathol 126:51–63

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lewis EJ, Kern FG, Rosenfield A, Stevens SA, Walker RL, Heffernan PB (1992) Lethal parasites in oysters from coastal Georgia with discussion of disease and management implications. Mar Fish Rev 54:1–6

    Google Scholar 

  • Mackin JG (1962) Oyster disease caused by Dermocystidium marinum and other microorganisms in Louisiana. Publ Inst Mar Sci Univ Tex 7:133–229

    Google Scholar 

  • Martinez JC, Yeomans RV, Lardizabal GP (2010) Parasites of the pleasure oyster Crassostrea corteziensis cultured in Nayarit, Mexico. J Aquat Anim Health 22:141–151

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meyers T, Burton T (2009) Diseases of wild and cultured shellfish in Alaska. Department of fish and game. Commercial Fisheries Division, Juneau

    Google Scholar 

  • Mladineo I (2008) Risk assessment of parasitic/symbiotic organisms of the commercially important mytilid Modiolus barbatus (Linnaeus, 1758). Aquac Res 39:1705–1719. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2109.2008.02047.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moore JD, Juhasz CI, Robbins TT (2011) A histopathology survey of California oysters. Calif Fish Game 97:68–83

    Google Scholar 

  • Moss JA, Xiao J, Dungan CF, Reece KS (2008) Description of Perkinsus beihaiensis n. sp., a new Perkinsus sp. parasite in oysters of southern China. J Eukaryot Microbiol 55:117–130. doi:10.1111/j.1550-7408.2008.00314.x

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Narasimham KA, Kripa V (2007) Textbook of oyster biology and culture in India. Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi

    Google Scholar 

  • OIE (2006) Manual of diagnostics tests for aquatic animals, 5th edn. Office International des Epizootics, Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • Park KI, Tsutsumi H, Hong JS, Choi KS (2008) Pathology survey of the short-neck clam Ruditapes philippinarum occurring on sandy tidal flats along the coast of Ariake Bay, Kyushu, Japan. J Invertebr Pathol 99:212–219. doi:10.1016/j.jip.2008.06.004

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pauley GB, Chew KK, Sparks AK (1967) Experimental infection of oysters (Crassostrea gigas) with thigmotrichid ciliates. J Invertebr Pathol 9:230–234

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ray SM (1966) A review of the culture method for detecting Dermocystidium marinum, with suggested modifications and precautions. Proc Natl Shellfish Assoc 54:55–69

    Google Scholar 

  • Renault T (1996) Appearance and spread of diseases among bivalve molluscs in the northern hemisphere in relation to international trade. Rev Sci Tech 15:551–561

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sabry RC, Gesteira TCV, Magalhães ARM et al (2013) Parasitological survey of mangrove oyster, Crassostrea rhizophorae, in the Pacoti River estuary, Ceará state, Brazil. J Invertebr Pathol 112:24–32. doi:10.1016/j.jip.2012.10.004

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sambrook J, Fritsch EF, Maniatis T (1989) Molecular cloning, a laboratory manual. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor

    Google Scholar 

  • Samuel D (1978) A Digenic trematode infection in the edible oyster Crassostrea-madrasensis. Indian J Fish 23:153–159

    Google Scholar 

  • Sanil NK, Vijayan KK, Kripa V, Mohamed KS (2010) Occurrence of the protozoan parasite, Perkinsus olseni in the wild and farmed pearl oyster, Pinctada fucata (Gould) from the southeast coast of India. Aquaculture 299:8–14. doi:10.1016/j.aquaculture.2009.12.007

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sanil NK, Suja G, Lijo J, Vijayan KK (2012) First report of Perkinsus beihaiensis in Crassostrea madrasensis from the Indian subcontinent. Dis Aquat Org 98:209–220. doi:10.3354/dao02440

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shaw BL, Battle HI (1957) The gross and microscopic anatomy of the digestive tract of the oyster Crassostrea virginica (Gmelin). Can J Zool 35:325–347

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Suja G, Sanil NK, Chinnadurai S, Vijayan KK (2014) Reproductive dysfunction in the edible oyster, Crassostrea madrasensis due to larval bucephalid infection—a case study. J Mar Biol Assoc India 55:5–10. doi:10.6024/jmbai.2013.55.2.01780-01

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Suja G, Kripa V, Mohamed KS, Shamal P, Sanil NK (2016) Nematopsis sp. (Apicomplexa : Porosporidae ) infection in Crassostrea madrasensis and its associated histopathology. J Mar Biol Assoc India. doi:10.6024/jmbai.2016.58.1.1890-0x

  • Thomas PA (1983) Some pathological aspects akin to sponge boring in molluscan shells. Proc Symp Coast Aquac Mar Biol Assoc India 2:671–676

    Google Scholar 

  • Usheva LN, Vaschenko MA, Durkina VB (2006) Histopathology of the digestive gland of the bivalve mollusk Crenomytilus grayanus (Dunker, 1853) from southwestern Peter the Great Bay, Sea of Japan. Russ J Mar Biol 32:166–172. doi:10.1134/S1063074006030047

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Villalba A, Mourelle SG, Carballal MJ, Lopez C (1997) Symbionts and diseases of mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis throughout the culture process in the Rias of Galicia (NW Spain). Dis Aquat Org 31:127–139

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Villalba A, Carballal MJ, Lopez C, Cabada A, Corral L, Azevedo C (1999) Branchial rickettsia-like infection associated with clam Venerupis rhomboides mortality. Dis Aquat Org 36:53–60

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wargo RN, Ford SE (1993) The effect of shell infestation by Polydora sp. and infection by Haplosporidium nelsoni (MSX) on the tissue condition of oysters, Crassostrea virginica. Estuaries 16:229. doi:10.2307/1352494

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Winstead JT, Volety AK, Tolley SG (2004) Parasitic and symbiotic fauna in oysters (Crassostrea virginica) collected from the Caloosahatchee River and estuary in Florida. J Shellfish Res 23:831–840

    Google Scholar 

  • Yevich PP, Barry MM (1969) Ovarian tumors in the quahog Mercenaria mercenaria. J Invertebr Pathol 14:266–267

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zeidan GC, Luz MDSA, Boehs G (2012) Parasites of economically important bivalves from the southern coast of Bahia state, Brazil. Rev Bras Parasitol Vet 21:391–398

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the Director, CMFRI, Cochin, for providing the facilities and the National Agricultural Innovation Project (NAIP, Code: 2000035102) for the financial support for undertaking this work. We thank the technical staff, K.K. Surendran of Marine Biotechnology Division, for the help obtained during sample processing and Jenny Sharma, Mathew Joseph and P. S. Alloycious of Molluscan Fisheries Division for their assistance during sample collection.

Author information

Author notes

  1. J. Lijo

    Present address: Export Inspection Agency—Kochi Laboratory, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Govt. of India, Panampilly Nagar (South), Kochi, 682 036, India

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fish Health Section, Marine Biotechnology Division, Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, PB No. 1603, Ernakulam North P.O, Cochin, 682018, India

    G. Suja, J. Lijo & N. K. Sanil

  2. Fishery Environment and Management Division, Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, PB No. 1603, Cochin, 682018, India

    V. Kripa

  3. Molluscan Fisheries Division, Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, PB No. 1603, Cochin, 682018, India

    K. Sunil Mohamed

  4. Fishery Resources Assessment Division, Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, PB No. 1603, Cochin, 682018, India

    K. G. Mini

Authors
  1. G. Suja
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. V. Kripa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. K. Sunil Mohamed
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. J. Lijo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. K. G. Mini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. N. K. Sanil
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to G. Suja.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Suja, G., Kripa, V., Sunil Mohamed, K. et al. Parasites and pathological conditions in the edible oyster, Crassostrea madrasensis (Preston), from the east and west coasts of India. Parasitol Res 116, 2569–2579 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-017-5566-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-017-5566-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation