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Is Aphanomyces astaci Loosing its Stamina: A Latent Crayfish Plague Disease Agent From Lake Venesjärvi, Finland
Jussila J, Francesconi C, Theissinger K, Kokko H and Makkonen J 
Published Online: 12/31/2021
Abstract
The crayfish plague disease agent, Aphanomyces astaci, has coevolved with the native European crayfish since its arrival to mainland Europe in the 1860s. There are indications that some of the A. astaci strains are of reduced virulence, while the resistance against A. astaci infection varies among native European crayfish stocks. In Lake Venesjärvi, Finland, a potential case of latent crayfish plague infection was observed in the early 2000s. We have isolated an oomycete from live Astacus astacus originating from Lake Venesjärvi and identified it as A. astaci of haplogroup A by specific qPCR, nuclear ITS and mitochondrial LSU and SSU sequencies, and named the isolate as UEF_VEN5/14. The A. astaci was isolated from a potentially latently infected A. astacus, subsequently identified, genotyped and proven to be of reduced virulence in a separate infection challenge experiment under laboratory conditions. These findings add to speculations of rather rapid coevolution of A. astaci and European native crayfish and support the reports on latent crayfish plague infections among wild native European crayfish.
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How to Cite
Jussila J, Francesconi C, Theissinger K, Kokko H and Makkonen J. (2021). Is Aphanomyces astaci Loosing its Stamina: A Latent Crayfish Plague Disease Agent From Lake Venesjärvi, Finland. Freshwater Crayfish 26(2):139-144. doi: 10.5869/fc.2021.v26-2.139
Author Information
Japo Jussila,* Dept of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, POBox 1627, Kuopio, Savo, Finland70210. E-mail: japo.jussila@uef.fi
Caterina Francesconi, Natural and Enviromental Sciences, Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, Campus Landau, Fortstraße 7,Landau, Landau, Germany76829. E-mail: francesconi@uni-landau.de
Kathrin Theissinger, LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics, Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre, Senckenberg Research Institute, Senckenberganlage 25, Frankfurt, Frankfurt, GermanyD-60325. E-mail: theissinger@uni-landau.de
Harri Kokko, Dept of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, POBox 1627, Kuopio, Savo, Finland70210. E-mail: harri.kokko@uef.fi
Jenny Makkonen, Dept of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, POBox 1627, Kuopio, Savo, Finland70210. E-mail: jenny.makkonen@uef.fi
Corresponding Author indicated by an *.
Publication History
Manuscript Submitted: 3/24/2021
Manuscript Accepted: 11/17/2021
Published Online: 12/31/2021
Published in Print: 12/31/2021
Funding Information
No specific funding statement is available for this article.