How Does the Dinoflagellate Parasite Hematodinium Outsmart the Immune System of Its Crustacean Hosts?

Abstract

A Problem for the Sustainability of Crustacean Fisheries and Aquaculture Worldwide Dinoflagellates of the genus Hematodinium infect over 40 species of marine crustaceans. Since the initial description of this parasite in France in the 1930s [1], it appears to have spread globally, causing economic loss in some species, including Tanner crabs (Chionoecetes bairdi) in Alaska [2], blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus) in the United States [3], edible crabs (Cancer pagurus) and Norway lobsters (Nephrops norvegicus) in Europe [4-7], sand crabs (Portunus armatus) in Australia [8], and Chinese swimming crabs (Portunus trituberculatus) in northern China [9]