Reduction of adhesion properties of Ruditapes philippinarum hemocytes exposed to Vibrio tapetis

Dis Aquat Organ. 2003 Dec 3;57(1-2):109-16. doi: 10.3354/dao057109.

Abstract

Vibrio tapetis is the causative agent of brown ring disease (BRD), which affects a species of clam, Ruditapes philippinarum. After incubation with V. tapetis, hemocytes lose filopods and become rounded, indicating cytotoxic activity of the bacterium. To rapidly quantify this cytotoxicity, a flow-cytometry test was developed based on the capacity of V. tapetis to inhibit adhesion of clam hemocytes to plastic. Several bacteria:hemocyte ratios, the cytotoxicity of other Vibrio spp. pathogenic to bivalves, and that of various V. tapetis isolates were tested. Inhibition of adherence is detectable with as few as 5 bacteria per hemocyte. The greater cytotoxic activity of V. tapetis compared to that of V. splendidus and V. pectenicida suggests a specific pathogenicity of V. tapetis to R. philippinarum hemocytes. Although all V. tapetis isolates inhibited adhesion, significant variations in cytotoxicity among isolates was demonstrated.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Analysis of Variance
  • Animals
  • Bivalvia / metabolism*
  • Bivalvia / microbiology*
  • Cell Adhesion
  • Europe
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Hemocytes / metabolism*
  • Seawater
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Vibrio / pathogenicity*