_cover_small.jpg "Issue Cover Image")
Prevalence of the crayfish plague, Aphanomyces astaci Schikora, in alien crayfish species in Japan
Kamimura K and Kawai T 
Published Online: 4/15/2020
Abstract
Crayfish plague is a severe disease of crayfish that is caused by the oomycete Aphanomyces astaci. Two crayfish hosts of this parasite, Procambarus clarkii and Pacifastacus leniusculus, were imported from North America into Japan and were found to be infected with this parasite. Since the endemic Japanese crayfish, Cambaroides japonicus, has a low resistance to the crayfish plague, infection with this parasite will likely lead to crayfish death. Specimens of both invasive crayfish species were collected across Japan and their infection status was examined using a PCR technique. Aphanomyces astaci was detected in all localities and the average infection prevalence was 67%. Additionally, when the signs of melanization were compared with the results from PCR analyses, it suggested that the DNA detection procedure is more reliable than observation of tissue melanization. Moreover, the relationship between prevalence and water temperature in the field was analyzed, indicated that water temperature influenced the prevalence of A. astaci infection.
Supplemental Documents
There are no supplementary documents for this article
Cited By
0 Citations:
How to Cite
Kamimura K and Kawai T. (2020). Prevalence of the crayfish plague, Aphanomyces astaci Schikora, in alien crayfish species in Japan. Freshwater Crayfish 25(1):31-37. doi: 10.5869/fc.2020.v25-1.031
Author Information
Tadashi Kawai,* Central Fisheries Research Institution, Hokkaido Research Organization, 238 Hamanaka, Yoichi, Hokkaido, Japan046-8555. E-mail: tadashikawai8@gmail.com
Kensuke Kamimura, Department of Natural Environmental Studies , The University of Tokyo, 5-1-5 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan277-8563. E-mail: kawai-tadashi@hro.or.jp
Corresponding Author indicated by an *.
Publication History
Manuscript Submitted: 1/11/2019
Manuscript Accepted: 1/18/2020
Published Online: 4/15/2020
Published in Print: 4/30/2020
Funding Information
No specific funding statement is available for this article.