Incidence of bacteremia in stressed and unstressed populations of the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus.

AUTOR(ES)

Welsh, P C

RESUMO

The incidence of bacteremia in the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, is reported to be in excess of 80%. Because these results have been controversial, a field study was initiated to determine the effect of commercial capture and handling stresses on the incidence and levels of infection in blue crabs. The majority (75%) of "unstressed" crabs which were captured individually and bled immediately upon removal from the water were bacteremic, with a geometric mean level of infection of 14 CFU/ml of hemolymph. Crabs collected by crab pot, confined within these pots for as long as 24 h, and sampled immediately after removal from the water had a similar mean level of infection. Crabs subjected to the stresses of commercial capture, handling, and transport showed a higher incidence of infection (91%) and a mean infection level of 46 CFU/ml. Injuries sustained by crabs during commercial handling are thought to be associated with the higher incidence of infection. Vibrio spp. were primarily responsible for progressive infections in commercially stressed crabs and were the predominant bacterial type in heavily infected crabs. Our results indicated that uninjured healthy crabs do not have sterile hemolymph but instead harbor low-level bacterial infections.

Documentos Relacionados

• Uptake and survival of enteric viruses in the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus.
• Evaluation of millipore coli-count samplers for monitoring fecal coliforms in the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus.
• Bacterial Flora of the Hemolymph of the Blue Crab, Callinectes sapidus: Numerical Taxonomy
• Bacterial Flora of the Hemolymph of the Blue Crab, Callinectes sapidus: Most Probable Numbers
• Colonization of the gut of the blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) by Vibrio cholerae.