Title: Signal crayfish, Pacifastacus leniusculus, as a vector for Psorospermium haeckeli to noble crayfish, Astacus astacus
Abstract: As part of investigations of the ecological impact and transmission of the crayfish parasite Psorospermium haeckeli, a laboratory experiment was performed where noble crayfish, Astacus astacus, and signal crayfish, Pacifastacus leniusculus, from populations in which P. haeckeli had not been detected, were fed with each other in all combinations. Noble crayfish fed noble crayfish did not acquire P. haeckeli during the experimental period of 10 months, while noble crayfish fed signal crayfish did. Signal crayfish fed noble crayfish showed a lower frequency of definitive positive infestation than signal crayfish fed signal crayfish. The results support the theory that Psorospermium haeckeli has been introduced to the Baltic island of Gotland with signal crayfish, and that signal crayfish, when not infected with the crayfish plague fungus Aphanomyces astaci, is more successful in suppressing the parasite. The investigations also showed that the technique of digesting soft tissues might be an inadequate method of observing P. haeckeli in signal crayfish.
Publication Year: 1996
Publication Date: 1996-12-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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Cited By Count: 8
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