scholarly journals First Detection of the Crayfish Plague Pathogen Aphanomyces astaci in Costa Rica: European Mistakes Should Not Be Repeated

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Martín-Torrijos ◽  
Angel Jose Correa-Villalona ◽  
Juan Carlos Azofeifa-Solano ◽  
Fresia Villalobos-Rojas ◽  
Ingo S. Wehrtmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Costa Rica ◽  
Procambarus Clarkii ◽  
Freshwater Ecosystems ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Warning Sign ◽  
Aphanomyces Astaci ◽  
Molecular Approaches ◽  
Research Activities ◽  
Invasive Crayfish ◽  
Crayfish Species

The crayfish plague pathogen Aphanomyces astaci is one of the main factors responsible for the decline in European and Asian native crayfish species. This pathogen was transported to these regions through its natural carriers, North American crayfish species, which were introduced during the last century. Since then, the carrier species and the pathogen have spread worldwide due to globalization and the highly invasive nature of these species. In Europe, five carrier species have been categorized as high-risk as they are responsible for the loss of provisioning services, which endangers freshwater ecosystems. The red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii, in particular, is currently one of the most concerning species as its spread threatens crayfish biodiversity and freshwater ecosystems worldwide. In this study, we describe the first detection of A. astaci in an introduced population of P. clarkii in Central America, specifically in Costa Rica. Using molecular approaches, we analyzed 48 crayfish samples collected from Reservoir Cachí and detected the presence of A. astaci in four of these samples. The introduction of P. clarkii and the incorrect management of the species (related to its fishery and the commercialization of live specimens) over the past decades in Europe are mistakes that should not be repeated elsewhere. The detection of the pathogen is a warning sign about the dangerous impact that the introduction of this invasive crayfish may have, not only as a carrier of an emerging disease but also as a direct risk to the invaded ecosystems. Our results may serve to (1) assess current and future consequences, and (2) direct future research activities, such as determining the potential impacts of A. astaci on native decapod species, or on other introduced crayfish species that are used for aquaculture purposes, such as Cherax quadricarinatus.

Prevalence of the crayfish plague, Aphanomyces astaci Schikora, in alien crayfish species in Japan

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-37
Author(s):  
Kensuke Kamimura ◽  
Tadashi Kawai
Keyword(s):  
Water Temperature ◽  
Procambarus Clarkii ◽  
Severe Disease ◽  
Pacifastacus Leniusculus ◽  
Infection Prevalence ◽  
Infection Status ◽  
Aphanomyces Astaci ◽  
Invasive Crayfish ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Crayfish Species

Abstract Crayfish plague is a severe disease of crayfish that is caused by the oomycete Aphanomyces astaci. Two crayfish hosts of this parasite, Procambarus clarkii and Pacifastacus leniusculus, were imported from North America into Japan and were found to be infected with this parasite. Since the endemic Japanese crayfish, Cambaroides japonicus, has a low resistance to the crayfish plague, infection with this parasite will likely lead to crayfish death. Specimens of both invasive crayfish species were collected across Japan and their infection status was examined using a PCR technique. Aphanomyces astaci was detected in all localities and the average infection prevalence was 67%. Additionally, when the signs of melanization were compared with the results from PCR analyses, it suggested that the DNA detection procedure is more reliable than observation of tissue melanization. Moreover, the relationship between prevalence and water temperature in the field was analyzed, indicated that water temperature influenced the prevalence of A. astaci infection.

scholarly journals Agonism and shelter competition between invasive and indigenous crayfish species

2004 ◽  
Vol 82 (12) ◽  
pp. 1923-1932 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesca Gherardi ◽  
William H Daniels
Keyword(s):  
Procambarus Clarkii ◽  
Reproductive Potential ◽  
Limited Resource ◽  
Indigenous Species ◽  
Laboratory Studies ◽  
Freshwater Biodiversity ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Invasive Crayfish ◽  
Procambarus Acutus ◽  
Crayfish Species

Several crayfish species behave as biological invaders. Their establishment in an area has frequently been accompanied by the reduction or elimination of indigenous species. A laboratory study was designed to investigate whether the invasive crayfish Procambarus clarkii (Girard, 1852) is dominant over the indigenous (to Delaware) crayfish Procambarus acutus acutus (Girard, 1852) in either the absence or the presence of a shelter as a limited resource. As expected, we found that P. clarkii is more aggressive than the similarly sized P. a. acutus, thus confirming previous studies that demonstrated an inherent dominance of the invasive over the indigenous crayfish. We then hypothesized that species showing a lower preference for an offered shelter (P. clarkii) should be less motivated to defend it. To the contrary, in a competitive context P. clarkii excluded P. a. acutus from the shelter but did not use the resource. Caution must be used in extrapolating these laboratory studies to the field, and future studies should analyze multiple factors, including the autoecology of the two species and their reproductive potential and recruitment patterns. However, our results might help in highlighting the risks for freshwater biodiversity created by the uncontrolled translocations of P. clarkii and other similar invasive species.

scholarly journals Parasite DNA detection in water samples enhances crayfish plague monitoring in asymptomatic invasive populations

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalie Sieber ◽  
Hanna Hartikainen ◽  
Raphael Krieg ◽  
Armin Zenker ◽  
Christoph Vorburger
Keyword(s):  
Water Samples ◽  
Pathogen Detection ◽  
Procambarus Clarkii ◽  
Limit Of Detection ◽  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Sampling Effort ◽  
Tissue Samples ◽  
Aphanomyces Astaci ◽  
Monitoring Tools ◽  
Invasive Crayfish

AbstractInvasive species can facilitate the spread of pathogens by first providing asymptomatic host reservoirs, and then driving disease outbreaks in native populations through pathogen spillover. An example of this are invasive crayfish species in Europe (Faxonius limosus, Pacifastacus leniusculus, Procambarus clarkii), which carry the deadly plague agent (Aphanomyces astaci). Effective disease management requires comprehensive monitoring, however, pathogen detection in carrier populations with low pathogen prevalence and intensities is challenging. We simultaneously collected and analysed crayfish tissue samples of invasive crayfish populations and water samples to compare A. astaci detection in different sample types using quantitative PCR. Combined, the two sampling methods revealed A. astaci presence with DNA concentrations above limit of detection (LOD; the lowest concentration which can be detected with reasonable certainty) in 13 of 23 invasive crayfish populations. In four additional sites, A. astaci DNA concentrations below LOD were found in water. In four populations only were A. astaci concentrations above LOD detected in both sample types and in three populations in concentrations above LOD in tissue but below LOD in water. The likely reason for these discrepancies is the low A. astaci prevalence and concentration in resistant invasive crayfish, which limit detection reliability. Consistency may be improved by timing surveys with seasonal periods of high A. astaci abundance and by increasing water sampling effort. Considering the ease of collecting eDNA samples, compared to crayfish tissue sampling, eDNA methods would facilitate frequent and comprehensive surveys. However, remaining uncertainties in eDNA-based detection reveal the relevance of combining monitoring tools to improve detection of invasive pathogens and their management.

scholarly journals High prevalence of multiple paternity in the invasive crayfish species, Procambarus clarkii

2010 ◽  
pp. 107-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gen Hua Yue ◽  
Jia Le Li ◽  
Chun Ming Wang ◽  
Jun Hong Xia ◽  
Gen Lin Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Procambarus Clarkii ◽  
Multiple Paternity ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Invasive Crayfish ◽  
Crayfish Species

scholarly journals Phenology of overland dispersal in the invasive crayfish Faxonius immunis (Hagen) at the Upper Rhine River area

2018 ◽  
pp. 30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Herrmann ◽  
Adam Schnabler ◽  
Andreas Martens
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Alien Species ◽  
Procambarus Clarkii ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
River System ◽  
Rhine River ◽  
Aquatic Biodiversity ◽  
Invasive Crayfish ◽  
Citizen Science Project ◽  
Upper Rhine ◽  
Crayfish Species

The non-indigenous crayfish Faxonius immunis (Hagen) is the dominant crayfish species at the Upper Rhine River system since his detection in 1993. As an invasive alien species, it is one of the biggest threats to aquatic biodiversity in the area. By dispersing over land, the species has a high potential to colonize small ponds created for threatened amphibians and dragonflies. Shortly after invasion, the fast growing population of F. immunis is changing the habitat drastically. In June 2016, our team started a local information campaign including citizen science project where the local people south of Karlsruhe, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany, could contact us when they spot a crayfish migrating over land to assess the activity of overland dispersal on a regional scale. Until January 2018, we got a total of 98 responses. Thirty-nine include suitable information including 33 records of overland dispersal of F. immunis. The species was recorded on land throughout the year, except February and July. Additionally, single observations of overland dispersal of other invasive crayfish species, naming Procambarus clarkii (Girard), Pacifastacus leniusculus (Dana), Procambarus virginalis (Lyko) and Faxonius limosus (Rafinesque), were recorded.

scholarly journals Coexistence of Two Invasive Species, Procambarus clarkii and Aphanomyces astaci, in Brackish Waters of a Mediterranean Coastal Lagoon

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Martín-Torrijos ◽  
Angel Jose Correa-Villalona ◽  
Antonio Pradillo ◽  
Javier Diéguez-Uribeondo
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
Coastal Lagoon ◽  
Procambarus Clarkii ◽  
Freshwater Ecosystems ◽  
Freshwater Crayfish ◽  
Brackish Waters ◽  
Aphanomyces Astaci ◽  
Salinity Levels ◽  
Native Crayfish ◽  
Mediterranean Coastal Lagoon

Procambarus clarkii is a worldwide freshwater invasive crustacean from North America and was first introduced into Europe the 1970s. Along with P. clarkii, another invasive alien species was also spreading: Aphanomyces astaci. This pathogen is listed among the 100 World’s worst invasive species and involved in the European native crayfish decline. Although both species live in freshwater ecosystems, P. clarkii can withstand brackish waters and inhabit estuarine habitats. However, the presence of A. astaci associated to North American crayfishes has never been described in brackish waters. In this study, we have investigated the presence of A. astaci in a P. clarkii population of a Mediterranean coastal lagoon in the Albufera Natural Park, Valencia, Spain introduced in 1976. Our study confirmed the presence of this pathogen, and suggests that A. astaci has been spreading for more than four decades in the mentioned estuarine environment. Mitochondrial ribosomal rnnS and rnnL indicated that the isolated pathogen belongs to d1-haplotype (i.e., D-haplogroup) typically hosted by P. clarkii. The presence of this pathogen in a brackish environment may suggest a better adaptation than other A. astaci strains to adverse conditions, such as high salinity levels. This is a matter of concern for the conservation of European native freshwater crayfish and highlights once more the risk of introducing invasive alien crustaceans.

scholarly journals May atyid shrimps act as potential vectors of crayfish plague?

NeoBiota ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 51 ◽  
pp. 65-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agata Mrugała ◽  
Miloš Buřič ◽  
Adam Petrusek ◽  
Antonín Kouba
Keyword(s):  
Procambarus Clarkii ◽  
Freshwater Crayfish ◽  
Transmission Experiment ◽  
Shrimp Species ◽  
Aphanomyces Astaci ◽  
Freshwater Shrimps ◽  
Successful Infection ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Species Specific ◽  
Crayfish Species

The causative agent of crayfish plague, Aphanomyces astaci Schikora, was long considered to be a specialist pathogen whose host range is limited to freshwater crayfish. Recent studies, however, provided evidence that this parasite does not only grow within the tissues of freshwater-inhabiting crabs but can also be successfully transmitted by them to European crayfish species. The potential to act as alternative A. astaci hosts was also indicated for freshwater shrimps. We experimentally tested resistance of two freshwater atyid shrimps: Atyopsis moluccensis (De Haan, 1849) and Atya gabonensis Giebel, 1875. They were infected with the A. astaci strain associated with the globally widespread North American red swamp crayfish, Procambarus clarkii (Girard, 1852), the typical host of the A. astaci genotype group D. As popular ornamental species, both shrimps may get in contact with infected P. clarkii not only in the wild but also in the aquarium trade. We assessed the potential of shrimps to transmit A. astaci to susceptible crayfish by cohabiting A. gabonensis previously exposed to A. astaci zoospores with the European noble crayfish, Astacus astacus (Linnaeus, 1758). In both experiments, the presence of A. astaci infection was analysed with species-specific quantitative PCR. We detected A. astaci in bodies and exuviae of both shrimp species exposed to A. astaci zoospores, however, the intensity of infection differed between the species and analysed samples; it was higher in A. moluccensis and the exuviae of both species. A. astaci was also detected in one A. astacus individual in the transmission experiment. This finding reveals that freshwater shrimps may be able to transmit A. astaci to crayfish hosts; this is particularly important as even a single successful infection contributes to the spread of the disease. Moreover, our results indicate that the tested shrimp species may be capable of resisting A. astaci infection and reducing its intensity through moulting. Although their potential to act as prominent A. astaci vectors requires further research, it should not be ignored as these freshwater animals may then facilitate A. astaci spread to susceptible crayfish species in aquarium and aquaculture facilities as well as in the wild.

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