Cultured – Wild Interactions: Disease Prevalence in Wild Geoduck Populations
Carolyn Friedman and Brent Vadopalas, School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington
R/GD-2
Although diseases are natural components of ecosystems, anthropogenic and natural perturbations have resulted in a global increase in emerging diseases in a variety of species, including marine invertebrates, over the past few decades. A lack of baseline information on geoduck health and condition hinders their management similar to the lack of baseline data for other animal and human diseases. Without prior knowledge of typical symbiotic organisms such as parasites, it can be difficult both to predict disease outbreaks and to determine the source of infection when large numbers of a species are impacted and dying.
Microsporidium-like parasite in geoduck egg.
The objective of this project is to characterize endosymbiotic organisms associated with geoduck clams and their prevalence in three wild populations representing South Sound, Hood Canal, and the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
Each population will be sampled in summer and winter in 2008 and 2009 to enable detection of both warm and cold water infectious organisms. For each collection, sixty animals will be measured (length and weight), and 3-5 mm cross sections will be removed that contain siphon, gills, mantle, foot, digestive organs, and gonads. Any gross lesions will be recorded and pieces of observed lesions will also be removed for histological processing or other standard pathology/microbiological methods (e.g., bacteriology). Sections of each tissue type will be screened via light microscopy for the presence and prevalence of infectious disease.
Updated May 22 2008