Aquatic Diseases & Immunity

Diseases of fish and shellfish affect both wild and aquacultured populations, accounting for millions of dollars in lost fishery revenues and ecosystem services each year. VIMS scientists identify and detect the diseases that affect marine life and  human health, studying where pathogens come from, how they are transmitted, and the genetic basis for immunity.

Top Stories | Crest Articles | Adv Service Reports | Labs & Groups | SRAMSOE | Articles | Dissertations | Links

Top Stories

Senator Warner visits VIMS to discuss oyster restoration (July 2010)
Visit coincides with a growing recognition that increased disease resistance, a local surge in oyster aquaculture, and recently announced federal restoration goals promise new opportunities for restoring Bay oysters.

Long-term study shows oysters developing disease resistance (December 2009)
VIMS' 50-year monitoring program shows that Chesapeake Bay oysters are developing resistance to the diseases that have helped devastate their population.

Vogelbein investigates Bermudian fish kill (October 2009)
VIMS professor Wolfgang Vogelbein provides expertise to the Bermudian government concerning a recent reef-fish die-off.

Study shows bacterial disease can kill striped bass (October 2008)
Study is first to show that Chesapeake Bay stripers are succumbing to mycobacteriosis.

VIMS team wins grant to study blue crab disease (Dec 2007)
Prof. Jeffrey Shields receives a 5-year, $2.4 million federal grant to study how fishing pressure and declines in water quality affect the emergence and spread of a blue crab disease in the seaside bays of Virginia’s Eastern Shore.

Research reveals that lobsters avoid sick neighbors (May 2006)
Ever tried to avoid a coworker who comes into the office with a runny nose and the sniffles? Turns out that lobsters can do you one better.

VIMS researchers investigate fish kill (March 2005)
VIMS researchers investigate a report of 100s of dead and dying adult menhaden in several Peninsula waterways.

Crest Articles

Team discovers probable cause of croaker deaths

VIMS finds pathogen in non-native oyster

Pair pursue promise of proteomics

Pair complete 3-year study of clam disease

To B or not to B: Pair use trout to study kidney's role in nurturing fish immune cells

New findings surprise Perkinsus researchers

VIMS named World Reference Laboratory for Shellfish Diseases

Scientists discover new species of Perkinsus

Advisory Service Reports

Burreson EM. 1988. Impact of Diseases on the Chesapeake Bay Oyster Industry.  4 pp.

Labs, Centers, and Groups

• Aquaculture Molecular Genetics Laboratory
• Aquatic Animal Health
• Crustacean Diseases
• Environmental Health
• Environmental Microbiology
• Fish & Shellfish Immunity
• Histopathology
• Mycobacteriosis in striped bass
• OIE Reference Laboratory
• Oyster Pathobiology
• Pfiesteria spp. research
• Shellfish Pathology Laboratory
• Striped Bass Assessment and Disease Research Program
• Striped Bass Disease Impacts: Tagging Study Information

Journal Articles

1. Yip, M. J., and coauthors. 2007. Evolution of Mycobacterium ulcerans and other mycolactone-producing mycobacteria from a common Mycobacterium marinum progenitor. Journal of Bacteriology 189(5):2021-2029.
2. Wheeler, K., J. D. Shields, and D. M. Taylor. 2007. Pathology of Hematodinium infections in snow crabs (Chionoecetes opilio) from Newfoundland, Canada. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology 95(2):93-100.
3. Van Dover, C. L., and coauthors. 2007. A fungal epizootic in mussels at a deep-sea hydrothermal vent. Marine Ecology-an Evolutionary Perspective 28(1):54-62.
4. Small, H. J., J. D. Shields, D. M. Neil, A. C. Taylor, and G. H. Coombs. 2007. Differences in enzyme activities between two species of Hematodinium, parasitic dinoflagellates of crustaceans. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology 94(3):175-183.
5. Small, H. J., J. D. Shields, J. A. Moss, and K. S. Reece. 2007. Conservation in the first internal transcribed spacer region (ITS1) in Hematodinium species infecting crustacean hosts found in the UK and Newfoundland. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 75(3):251-258.
6. Small, H. J., J. D. Shields, K. L. Hudson, and K. S. Reece. 2007. Molecular detection of Hematodinium sp infecting the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus. Journal of Shellfish Research 26(1):131-139.
7. Shields, J. D., D. M. Taylor, P. G. O'Keefe, E. Colbourne, and E. Hynick. 2007. Epidemiological determinants in outbreaks of bitter crab disease (Hematodinium sp.) in snow crabs Chionoecetes opilio from Conception Bay, Newfoundland, Canada. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 77(1):61-72.
8. Nunan, L. M., D. V. Lightner, C. R. Pantoja, N. A. Stokes, and K. S. Reece. 2007. Characterization of a rediscovered haplosporidian parasite from cultured Penaeus vannamei. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 74(1):67-75.
9. Moss, J. A., and coauthors. 2007. Pathogens in Craassostrea ariakensis and other Asian oyster species: implications for non-native oyster introduction to Chesapeake Bay. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 77(3):207-223.
10. Montgomery-Fullerton, M. M., R. A. Cooper, K. M. Kauffman, J. D. Shields, and R. E. Raftlaff. 2007. Detection of Panulirus argus Virus 1 in Caribbean spiny lobsters. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 76(1):1-6.
11. Mann, R., and E. N. Powell. 2007. Why oyster restoration goals in the Chesapeake Bay are not and probably cannot be achieved. Journal of Shellfish Research:905–917.
12. Li, C. W., and J. D. Shields. 2007. Primary culture of hemocytes from the Caribbean spiny lobster, Panulirus argus, and their susceptibility to Panulirus argus Virus 1 (PaV1). Journal of Invertebrate Pathology 94(1):48-55.
13. Jiang, H. H., and coauthors. 2007. Tag return models allowing for harvest and catch and release: Evidence of environmental and management impacts on striped bass fishing and natural mortality rates. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 27(2):387-396.
14. Jiang, H. H., and coauthors. 2007. Age-dependent tag return models for estimating fishing mortality, natural mortality, and selectivity. Journal of Agricultural Biological and Environmental Statistics 12(2):177-194.
15. Frederick, L. A., P. A. Van Veld, and C. D. Rice. 2007. Bioindicators of immune function in creosote-adapted estuarine killifish, Fundulus heteroclitus. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health-Part a-Current Issues 70(17):1433-1442.
16. Encomio, V. G., and F. L. E. Chu. 2007. Heat shock protein (hsp70) expression and thermal tolerance in sublethally heat-shocked eastern oysters Crassostrea virginica infected with the parasite Perkinsus marinus. Diseases of aquatic organisms 76(3):251-260.
17. Dungan, C. F., K. S. Reece, R. M. Hamilton, N. A. Stokes, and E. M. Burreson. 2007. Experimental cross-infections by Perkinsus marinus and P. chesapeaki in three sympatric species of Chesapeake Bay oysters and clams. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 76(1):67-75.
18. Calvo, L. M. R., and coauthors. 2007. Influence of host genetic origin and geographic location on QPX disease in Northern quahogs (=hard clams), Mercenaria mercenaria. Journal of Shellfish Research 26(1):109-119.
19. Vandersea, M. W., and coauthors. 2006. Molecular assays for detecting Aphanomyces invadans in ulcerative mycotic fish lesions. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 72(2):1551-1557.
20. Small, H. J., D. M. Neil, A. C. Taylor, R. J. A. Atkinson, and G. H. Coombs. 2006. Molecular detection of Hematodinium spp. in Norway lobster Nephrops norvegicus and other crustaceans. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 69(2-3):185-195.
21. Ranger, B. S., and coauthors. 2006. Globally distributed mycobacterial fish pathogens produce a novel plasmid-encoded toxic macrolide, mycolactone F. Infection and Immunity 74(11):6037-6045.
22. Orth, R. J., M. L. Luckenbach, S. R. Marion, K. A. Moore, and D. J. Wilcox. 2006. Seagrass recovery in the Delmarva Coastal Bays, USA. Aquatic Botany 84(1):26-36.
23. Orth, R. J., and coauthors. 2006. A global crisis for seagrass ecosystems. Bioscience 56(12):987-996.
24. Moss, J. A., E. M. Burreson, and K. S. Reece. 2006. Advanced Perkinsus marinus infections in Crassostrea ariakensis maintained under laboratory conditions. Journal of Shellfish Research 25(1):65-72.
25. Li, C. W., and coauthors. 2006. Detection of Panulirus argus Virus 1 (PaV1) in the Caribbean spiny lobster using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 72(3):185-192.
26. Kaattari, I. M., M. W. Rhodes, S. L. Kaattari, and E. B. Shotts. 2006. Review: The evolving story of Mycobacterium tuberculosis clade members detected in fish. Journal of Fish Diseases 29(9):509-520
27. Hare, M. P., and coauthors. 2006. A genetic test for recruitment enhancement in Chesapeake Bay oysters, Crassostrea virginica, after population supplementation with a disease tolerant strain. Conservation Genetics 7(5):717-734.
28. Haines, A. N., M. F. Flajnik, and J. P. Wourms. 2006. Histology and immunology of the placenta in the Atlantic sharpnose shark, Rhizoprionodon terraenovae. Placenta 27(11-12):1114-1123.
29. Dungan, C. F., and K. S. Reece. 2006. In vitro propagation of two Perkinsus spp. Parasites from japanese manila clams Venerupis philippinarum and description of Perkinsus honshuensis n. Sp. Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology 53(5):316-326.
30. Chu, F. L. E., and E. D. Lund. 2006. Viability, infectivity and fatty acid synthetic activity of Perkinsus marinus meront cells incubated in estuarine and artificial seawater. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 71(2):131-139.
31. Bromage, E. S., J. M. Ye, and S. L. Kaattari. 2006. Antibody structural variation in rainbow trout fluids. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology B-Biochemistry & Molecular Biology 143(1):61-69.
32. Behringer, D. C., M. J. Butler, and J. D. Shields. 2006. Avoidance of disease by social lobsters. Nature 441(7092):421-421.
33. Audemard, C., L. M. R. Calvo, K. T. Paynter, K. S. Reece, and E. M. Burreson. 2006. Real-time PCR investigation of parasite ecology: in situ determination of oyster parasite Perkinsus marinus transmission dynamics in lower Chesapeake Bay. Parasitology 132:827-842.
34. Stentiford, G. D., and J. D. Shields. 2005. A review of the parasitic dinoflagellates Hematodinium species and Hematodinium-like infections in marine crustaceans. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 66(1):47-70.
35. Small, H. J., D. M. Neil, A. C. Taylor, and G. H. Coombs. 2005. Identification and partial characterisation of metalloproteases secreted by a Mesanophrys-like ciliate parasite of the Norway lobster Nephrops norvegicus. Diseases of aquatic organisms 67(3):225-231.
36. Shields, J. D., and coauthors. 2005. Epidemiology of bitter crab disease (Hematodinium sp.) in snow crabs Chionoecetes opilio from Newfoundland, Canada. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 64(3):253-264.
37. Meyer, G. R., S. M. Bower, and R. B. Carnegie. 2005. Sensitivity of a digoxigenin-labelled DNA probe in detecting Mikrocytos mackini, causative agent of Denman Island disease (mikrocytosis), in oysters. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology 88(2):89-94.
38. Lund, E. D., and coauthors. 2005. Effects of triclosan on growth, viability and fatty acid synthesis of the oyster protozoan parasite Perkinsus marinus. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 67(3):217-224.
39. Kiryu, Y., V. S. Blazer, W. K. Vogelbein, H. Kator, and J. D. Shields. 2005. Factors influencing the sporulation and cyst formation of Aphanomyces invadans, etiological agent of ulcerative mycosis in Atlantic menhaden, Brevoortia tyrannus. Mycologia 97(3):569-575.
40. Kaattari, S., E. Bromage, and I. Kaattari. 2005. Analysis of long-lived plasma cell production and regulation: Implications for vaccine design for aquaculture. Aquaculture 246(1-4):1-9.
41. Kaattari, I. M., M. W. Rhodes, H. Kator, and S. L. Kaattari. 2005. Comparative analysis of mycobacterial infections in wild striped bass Morone saxatilis from Chesapeake Bay. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 67(1-2):125-132.
42. Hedgecock, D., and coauthors. 2005. The case for sequencing the Pacific oyster genome. Journal of Shellfish Research 24(2):429-441.
43. Friedman, C. S., and coauthors. 2005. Herpes virus in juvenile Pacific oysters Crassostrea gigas from Tomales Bay, California, coincides with summer mortality episodes. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 63(1):33-41.
44. Encomio, V. G., S. M. Stickler, S. K. Allen, and F. L. Chu. 2005. Performance of "natural dermo-resistant" oyster stocks-survival, disease, growth, condition and energy reserves. Journal of Shellfish Research 24(1):143-155.
45. Encomio, V. G., and F. L. E. Chu. 2005. Seasonal variation of heat shock protein 70 in eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica) infected with Perkinsus marinus (Dermo). Journal of Shellfish Research 24(1):167-175.

Theses and Dissertations

1. Moss, J. A. 2007. Characterization of Exotic Pathogens Associated with the Suminoe Oyster, Crassostrea ariakensis. Ph.D. Dissertation. The College of William and Mary, Gloucester Pt. VA.
2. Li, C. 2007. The Infection Dynamics of Pav1 in the Caribbean Spiny Lobster Panulirus argus. Ph.D. Dissertation. The College of William and Mary, Gloucester Pt. VA.
3. Stickler, S. M. 2004. Natural Dermo Resistance and Related Defense Mechanisms in Eastern Oysters, Crassostrea virginica, with Implications for Restoration. Ph.D. Dissertation. The College of William and Mary, Gloucester Pt. VA.
4. Gauthier, D. T. 2004. Pathobiology of Mycobacteria in Striped Bass (Morone saxatilis). Ph.D. Dissertation. The College of William and Mary, Gloucester Pt. VA.
5. Encomio, V. G. 2004. A Study of the Eastern Oyster, Crassostrea virginica: (1) Dermo Tolerance, Survival, Growth, Condition and Hsp70 Expression in Different Geographic Stocks; (2) Heat Tolerance and Effects of Sublethal Heat Shock on Survival and Hsp70 Expression of Infected and Uninfected Oysters. Ph.D. Dissertation. The College of William and Mary, Gloucester Pt. VA.
6. Earnhart, C. G. 2004. Dynamics of the Host-Parasite Interaction: In Vitro Correlates of Crassostrea-Induced Modulation of Perkinsus marinus Function. Ph.D. Dissertation. The College of William and Mary, Gloucester Pt. VA.

Suggested Links

• U.S. EPA  Chesapeake Bay Program Office
• The Crustacean Society