Attachment of the nemertean Malacobdella arrokeana to the mantle of the geoduck Panopea abbreviata and survival outside the host

VAZQUEZ, N.; BIGATTI, G.; ITUARTE, C.; CREMONTE, F.

JOURNAL OF SHELLFISH RESEARCH

NATL SHELLFISHERIES ASSOC

Año: 2009 vol. 28 p. 759 - 761

0730-8000

Results of the histopathological study of mantle tissues on the commercial geoduck Panopea abbreviata hosting the nemertean Malacobdella arrokeana revealed that the normal histology of mantle tissues of the bivalve was not altered by the attachment structure of the nemertean. However, the vacuum force generated by the nemertean sucker seems to elicit a slight mechanical stretching of epithelial cells and an inflammatory response affecting the connective tissue between inner and outer mantle epithelium, just below the point of attachment. 99.4% bivalves examined (n = 657) hosted at least one specimen of M. arrokeana. Adult nemerteans were able to survive outside the host for up to 3 months at 13ºC. These results suggest that the relationship between M. arrokeana and P. abbreviata should be considered as a commensal rather than a parasitic relationship.