Hepatopancreas alteration of the blue crab Callinectes sapidus by the rhizocephalan barnacle Loxothylacus texanus

A histological study of the hepatopancreas of the blue crab Callinectes sapidus parasitized by the rhizocephalan barnacle Loxothylacus texanus was conducted to explore if the degree of development of the parasite's rootlet system was correlated to its maturation process as seen by external char...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Bortolini, JL, Alvarez, F
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2008
País:México
Institución:Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
Repositorio:Sistema de Información de la Facultad de Ciencias, UNAM
OAI Identifier:oai:repositorio.fciencias.unam.mx:11154/141402
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/706
http://hdl.handle.net/11154/141402
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Zoology
Callinectes sapidus
Loxothylacus texanus
Hepatopancreas
Histology
Descripción
Sumario:A histological study of the hepatopancreas of the blue crab Callinectes sapidus parasitized by the rhizocephalan barnacle Loxothylacus texanus was conducted to explore if the degree of development of the parasite's rootlet system was correlated to its maturation process as seen by external characters of its reproductive body or externa. Four types of crabs were examined: control, with virgin and mature externa, and scarred. A clear progression with an increase in number and size of the parasite's rootlets in the hosts' hepatopancreas can be seen. Although the hepatopancreatic tubules remain functional, the hepatopancreas appears as a loose structure, completely infiltrated with L. texanus rootlets, in advanced stages of the parasitism. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.