engleski

Presence of two oomycete pathogens in populations of the invasive signal crayfish along its range in the Korana River, Croatia

Introduction and spread of invasive alien species may result in transmission of pathogens to susceptible native counterparts and lead to their populations decline. We analysed the presence of two aquatic oomycete pathogens, Aphanomyces astaci – causative agent of crayfish plague and Saprolegina parasitica – causative agent of saprolegniasis in fish and an oportunistic crayfish pathogen, in populations of the signal crayfish along its invasion range in the Korana River, Croatia. We collected mixed epibiotic microbial communities from carapace of 110 crayfish by swabs. Next, DNA was isolated and PCR-based pathogen detection conducted. A. astaci was detected by previously developed specific primers in 6.4% of crayfish along the entire invasion range (invasion core, upstream and downstream fronts). To detect S. parasitica, we developed specific primer pairs and demonstrated their specificity and sensitivity using genomic DNA of S. parasitica and related oomycetes. However, S. parasitica was not detected in any of the examined individuals.

invasive species ; signal crayfish ; pathogenic oomycetes

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