Publication : Shell deformity as a marker for retrospective detection of a pathogenic unicellular alga, Coccomyxa sp., in mytilid mussels : a first case study and research agenda
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Date
2019-12-16
Auteurs
Zuykov, Michael
Kolyuchkina, Galina
Anderson, Julia
Spiers, Graeme
Schindler, Michael
Direction de publication
Direction de recherche
Titre de la revue
ISSN de la revue
Titre du volume
Éditeur
Academic Press
Résumé
An L-shaped shell deformity (LSSD) on the posterior shell edge is known exclusively in wild mytilid mussels
infected with photosynthetic Coccomyxa-like algae. LSSD forms due to the appearance of extra shell material; it
only occurs if the mussel is heavily infected with the alga. Traditionally, observation of high amount of the green
spots (algal colonies) on a large area of host soft tissues (most of the mantle and in adductor muscle) has been
used to indicate a high infection rate. We examined 300 Mytilus spp. (100 small, 20–30 mm; 200 large,
40–60 mm) with a high degree of LSSD (parameter “d” > 5 mm) from the Lower St. Lawrence Estuary (Québec,
Canada). Green spots were absent in two large mussels, and were only present along the mantle posterior edge in
14 large mussels; other individuals had high infection levels. Our observations suggest that some individuals
could be in a state of remission, or, even more optimistically - mussels may be able to resist the pathogen. LSSD is
the stable through-time marker for detection of mytilid mussels that are or were infected with Coccomyxa algae,
and, thus, may provide information for the study of mussel immunity and control of alga distribution/migration
in coastal waters worldwide.
Description
Revue
Journal of invertebrate pathology, Vol. 169 (2020)
DOI
10.1016/j.jip.2019.107311
URL vers la version publiée
Mots-clés
Shell deformity , Biomarker , Blue mussels , Mytilus edulis , Coccomyxa sp. , Pathogen
Citation
Type de document
article de recherche