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Light microscopy of Astacus astacus L. under normal and selected pathological conditions, with special emphasis to porcelain disease and crayfish plague
Oidtmann B, El-Matbouli M, Fischer H, Hoffmann R, Klärding K, Schmid I and Schmidt R 
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Abstract
Light microscopy of infection by the crayfish plague fungus, Aphanomyces astaci, and the microsporidian parasite, Thelohania contejeani, in the European freshwater crayfish, Astacus astacus L., is described. Hyphal growth of A. astaci was found in all tissues, except heart and vas deferens. In an early state of infection hyphae were demonstrated in soft cuticle of the exoskeleton and cornea of the eye, but rarely in other locations. Infection by T. contejeani showed a clear affinity of spores to the muscles. Developing spores were strictly intracytoplasmatic in muscle cells of heart, gut and skeletal muscle. Strongest infection occurres in skeletal muscle. In tissues other than muscle, only mature spores were found extracellular in the mixocoel. No signs of a host defence reaction were recognized in either disease by lightmicroscopy. Infection of the crayfish plague fungus led to cell degeneration of several tissues; infection by T. contejeani caused a progressive destruction of muscle fibers. Host parasite interaction of infection by A. astaci and T. contejeani are discussed.
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Oidtmann B, El-Matbouli M, Fischer H, Hoffmann R, Klärding K, Schmid I and Schmidt R. (1996). Light microscopy of Astacus astacus L under normal and selected pathological conditions, with special emphasis to porcelain disease and crayfish plague. Freshwater Crayfish 11(1):465-480. doi: 10.5869/fc.1997.v11.465
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