Meeting Abstract
Disseminated neoplasia a leukemia-like disease in bivalve mollusks characterized by highly mitotic hemocytes is one of the six most destructive molluscan diseases. It has been extensively investigated in the economically valuable soft-shell clam Mya arenaria. The current study examines the reproductive output of Mya arenaria compared to overall disease development. Native and deployed Mya arenaria from Machias, Maine were collected, disease status determined and samples prepared for histological analysis. Gonadal tubules, oocyctes diameters and mature spermatozoa were measured in μm and stereology was conducted for oocyte/sperm versus nutrient cells. Development of terminal neoplasia increases significantly during the spring in deployed animals, which is the onset of the first reproduction. Females did not display a significant difference (p=0.075) in oocyte and tubule diameter between deployed and native animals. Tubule diameter was increased in males during reproductive season in the fall in natives (p=0.026) and in the spring (p=0.041) in deployed animals. Amounts of sperm were elevated in the spring in deployed compared to native neoplastic animals. Spring would have been the first onset of reproduction for deployed animals. Deployed neoplastic males displayed on increase in their reproductive output. Increasing the output in neoplastic females does not occur, possibly because it is too energetically costly.
