Meeting Abstract

74.6  Wednesday, Jan. 6  Development of hemic neoplasia and surveys in different populations of Mya arenaria. BOETTGER, S.A.*; TARASKA, N.G; LOCK, N.C.; WALKER, C.W.; West Chester University; West Chester University; West Chester University; The University of New Hampshire aboettger@wcupa.edu

Disseminated neoplasia in bivalve mollusks is characterized by mitotic hemocytes with a nuclear to cytoplasmic ratio of 1:1. Efforts to link environmental contaminants to the initiation of this fatal disease have depended on data collected followed episodic contamination events. No studies have characterized the prevalence of this leukemia-like disease in sites with different pollution levels/concentrations over an extended period of time. Here we examine the development of disseminated neoplasia in the soft shell clam, Mya arenaria, at six sites in New England where clam fisheries have been negatively impacted and we also provide the first evaluation of development of clam neoplasia at different sites. Surveys of populations of Mya arenaria between New Brunswick and Maryland indicated a higher frequency of neoplasia in animals from Rhode Island and New York (>20%) compared to all other populations, while animals from Maryland <1%) had the lowest frequency of neoplastic individuals. Our transplants of healthy, hatchery raised Mya arenaria document the highest frequency of neoplasia development and link neoplasia occurrence to sediment charcteristics and environmental contaminants. These results may indicate vulnerability of neoplastic clams to environmental stress. (CASSDA through WCU to SAB and Saltonstall/Kennedy NA08NMF4270416 to CWW)