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Title: IN VITRO INTERACTIONS OF THE ASIAN FRESHWATER CLAM (CORBICULA FLUMINEA) HEMOCYTES AND CRYPTOSPORIDIUMS PARVUM OOCYSTS

Author
item GRACZYK, T - JOHN'S HOPKINS UNIV
item Fayer, Ronald
item CRANFIELD, M - JOHN'S HOPKINS UNIV
item CONN, D - UNIV OF THE SOUTH

Submitted to: Applied and Environmental Microbiology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/12/1997
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Previously we demonstrated the pathogen Cryptosporidium parvum (Cp), obtained from newborn calves, was removed from artificial seawater by oysters and retained in an infectious state for at least one week. Thus, oysters potentially could be bioindicators of Cp in contaminated waters and, if eaten raw, be a source of human infection. The present study has demonstrated that hemocytes (blood cells) of freshwater clams respond similarly to those of oysters in engulfing and retaining Cp. These clams, capable of developing high populations in agricultural and industrial wastewater drainages, might likewise serve as bioindicators of Cp in freshwater and possibly be used to remove the parasite from such waters.

Technical Abstract: The Asian freshwater clam, Corbicula fluminea, is capable of developing high density beds (up to 3,750 clams/m 2) in waste waters and in agricultural and industrial drainages in North America. This benthic bivalve serves as a bioindicator of water pollution, and is used to assess ecotoxicological effects of contaminants, and to biomonitor environmental perturbations. It was demonstrated by an in vitro slide phagocytosis assay that hemocytes of C. fluminea are capable of internalization of infectious Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts of AUCP-1 strain.