Novel diagnostic tests for the putative agent of bacterial gill disease in Pacific razor clams (Siliqua patula)

Brooke A Travis; William N Batts; Maya L Groner; Paul K Hershberger; Steven C Fradkin; Carla M Conway; Linda Park; Maureen K Purcell

doi:10.1016/j.jip.2020.107519

Novel diagnostic tests for the putative agent of bacterial gill disease in Pacific razor clams (Siliqua patula)

J Invertebr Pathol. 2021 Jan:178:107519. doi: 10.1016/j.jip.2020.107519. Epub 2020 Dec 16.

Authors

Brooke A Travis¹, William N Batts², Maya L Groner³, Paul K Hershberger⁴, Steven C Fradkin⁵, Carla M Conway², Linda Park⁶, Maureen K Purcell⁷

Affiliations

¹ Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States.
² U.S. Geological Survey, Western Fisheries Research Center (WFRC), Seattle, WA, United States.
³ U.S. Geological Survey, Western Fisheries Research Center (WFRC), Seattle, WA, United States; Prince William Sound Science Center, Cordova, AK, United States.
⁴ U.S. Geological Survey, WFRC, Marrowstone Marine Field Station, Nordland, WA, United States.
⁵ National Park Service, Olympic National Park, Port Angeles, WA, United States.
⁶ Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, WA, United States.
⁷ U.S. Geological Survey, Western Fisheries Research Center (WFRC), Seattle, WA, United States. Electronic address: mpurcell@usgs.gov.

PMID: 33333062
DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2020.107519

Abstract

Nuclear inclusion X (NIX) is a gamma proteobacteria that infects the nuclei of gill epithelial cells in Pacific razor clams. NIX has been associated with clam die-offs in coastal Washington. A quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay was developed to detect NIX in Pacific razor clams, and assay specificity was confirmed by chromogenic in situ hybridization (CISH). Both tests were applied to evaluate NIX infections in wild Pacific razor clams collected during spring 2019. Consistent with results from earlier histopathological assessments, qPCR and CISH indicated 100% prevalence in razor clams from two Washington beaches and 0% prevalence from two Alaskan beaches.

Keywords: Chromogenic in situ hybridization; Gamma proteobacteria; NIX; Nuclear Inclusion X; Quantitative PCR; Razor Clam; Siliqua patula.

Published by Elsevier Inc.

Publication types

Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Animals
Bacterial Infections / epidemiology
Bivalvia / microbiology*
Diagnostic Tests, Routine / methods*
Gills
In Situ Hybridization
Intranuclear Inclusion Bodies / microbiology
Prevalence
Proteobacteria / isolation & purification*
Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
Washington / epidemiology