Meeting Abstract

P3.115  Wednesday, Jan. 6  Initiation of hemic neoplasia in the soft-shell clam Mya arenaria – Treatment with Bromodeoxyuridine. TARASKA, N.A.*; BOETTGER, S.A.; LOCK, N.C.; WALKER, C.W.; West Chester University; West Chester University; West Chester University; The University of New Hampshire nt648886@wcupa.edu

Hemic neoplasia is one of the six most destructive diseases among bivalve mollusks populations and specifically in populations of Mya arenaria. The disease is characterized by the development of abnormal, round blood cells that proliferate and immortalize. The specific cause of hemic neoplasia in M. arenaria remains undetermined, however, the involvement of viral pathogens and/or environmental pollutants has been considered. In this study we are using 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) known to induce a murine leukemia virus in order to initiate hemic neoplasia a leukemia–like disease. Three treatment methods were run to test the probability of a viral induction to develop hemic neoplasia in M. arenaria. Prior to the initial injection of BrdU in the experiments, all of the clams were biopsied to ensure that they were non-neoplastic. Each clam from the three treatments were screened weekly for the development of hemic neoplasia. The three treatments consisted of 1. injection of 100μg/ml BrdU into the individual M. arenaria, 2. inoculation seawater with BrdU and 3. no contact with BrdU as a control. Animals were biopsied weekly for 8 weeks and neoplasia development recorded on a scale of 1-4 (4 = terminal stage of the disease). Based on our results, hemic neoplasia in M. arenaria may be virally induced rather than develop due to environmental contaminants. (OSRFDC through WCUPA to SAB)