Detection and discovery of crustacean parasites in blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus) by using 18S rRNA gene-targeted denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography.

Recently, we described a novel denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC) approach useful for initial detection and identification of crustacean parasites. Because this approach utilizes general primers targeted to conserved regions of the 18S rRNA gene, a priori genetic sequence information on eukaryotic parasites is not required. This distinction provides a significant advantage over specifically targeted PCR assays that do not allow for the detection of unknown or unsuspected parasites.

DNA strand breaks in grass shrimp embryos exposed to highway runoff sediments and sediments with coal fly ash.

Embryo production was reduced in female grass shrimp exposed to sediments with added coal fly ash and to sediments collected from an estuarine station containing high PAH concentrations due to its proximity to a highway storm drain. Grass shrimp embryos exposed to pore water from the high PAH and high metal sediments showed both reduced hatching and increases in DNA strand breaks (comet assay). Sediments with added coal fly ash had high concentrations of vanadium and selenium which may have contributed to effects similar to those observed with sediments with high PAH.