Experimental infection of the echinoid strongylocentrotus droebachiensis with Paramoeba invadens: quantitative changes in the coelomic fluid

• Published in: Diseases of aquatic organisms Vol. 4; no. 2; pp. 149 - 157
• Main Authors: JELLETT, J. F, WARDLAW, A. C, SCHEIBLING, R. E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oldendorf Inter-Research 1988
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Echinodermata; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Invertebrates; Marine; Paramoeba invadens; Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis; Marine environment; Protozoa; Coelom; Disease; Echinodermata; Rhizoflagellata; Echinoidea; Invertebrata
• DOI: 10.3354/dao004149
• ISSN: 0177-5103

Paramoebiasis, due to Paramoeba invadens , was transmitted from diseased to healthy echinoids Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis in the waterborne infection apparatus of Scheibling & Stephenson (1984). Control echinoids were exposed to healthy S. droebachiensis in a parallel apparatus. Groups of 8 individuals from the infected treatment were sacrificed in the pre-symptomatic period and at 24 and 72 h after development of symptoms of the disease, as evidenced by loss of attachment (LOA) to aquarium surfaces. Coelomic fluid (CF) was drawn into EGTA as an anticoagulant, and the concentration of coelomocytes determined directly and after density-gradient fractionation into 3 different cell bands. The concentration of total coelomocytes was significantly lower in infected echinoids than in controls, due to smaller numbers of cells in the band containing white spherule and vibratile cells and that containing red spherule cells.