A PCR-based assay for detection of Hematodinium sp. in Sediment from The Maryland Coastal Bays

ABSTRACT: Hematodinium sp. is a parasitic dinoflagellate that infects the blue crab Callinectes sapidus and other crustaceans of economic importance. Using a real-time PCR based methodologys, we can now detect Hematodinium parasites in various crab tissues down to as little as 10 parasites per sampled tissue. This method will enable us to understand infection progress through the parasitic life cycle. One important question that remains is to understand the mode of initial parasite infection. Crab-to-crab direct transmission has been posited as one likely route. We also sought to discover a potential environmental reservoir through analysis of various ecological sites within the Maryland Coastal Bays, as transmission through dinospores has been posited as one potential mode of transmission. Sediment samples were collected and analyzed using primers that are specific to the Internal Transcribe Spacer I (ITS1) region of Hematodinium sp. We report here the discovery of sediment from the junction between northern Chincoteague Bay and southern Newport Bay that contained Hematodinium DNA. This Q-PCR result was confirmed through direct cloning of a PCR fragment and comparison with genomic sequence deposited within Genbank. Ongoing studies will seek to confirm this result, and to further understand the biological and environmental factors related to this potential “hot spot” for a putative mode of disease transmission.

ADDRESS, E-MAIL AND TELEPHONE NUMBER OF CORRESPONDING AUTHOR

Whitney Dyson

University of Maryland Eastern Shore

Department of Natural Sciences

Backbone Rd.

Princess Anne, MD 21853

410-916-5924

wedyson@umes.edu

PRESENTATION TYPE: Poster

TECHNICAL ARES: Coastal Areas, Wetlands and Oceans

AFFILIATION: Student (Graduate)

CENTER AFFILIATION: LMRCSC

ARE YOU APPLYING FOR STUDENT TRAVEL AWARD: YES