Geoduck clam (Panopea abrupta): Anatomy, Histology, Development, Pathology, Parasites and Symbionts

Turbellaria of Geoduck Clams

References | Citation

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Turbellaria are free living, commensal flatworms (phylum Platyhelminthes, class Turbellaria, order Rhabdocoel, and family Graffillidae) (Figs. 1 to 3) of less than 3 mm in length that were found in close association with the gills of geoduck clams. In all cases, there was no evidence of pathology (Figures 4a and 4b). They were found in geoduck clams from all Fisheries Management Areas sampled except in the fifteen clams sampled from Fisheries Management Area 23. They occurred more frequently and in higher intensity in the clams from Fisheries Management Areas 7 and 8 on the central coast of B.C. 

	Figure 1. Unstained wet mount of a commensal turbellarian obtained from the gill of a geoduck clam collected from the central coast of British Columbia. The two eye spots (ocelli) are evident at the anterior end (A).
	Figure 2. Histological section through a turbellarian showing a testis (ts) full of basophilic spermatozoa, an ovary (ov) with a few developing ova, a nerve ganglion (ng) and the ciliated epidermus (ce). Haematoxylin and eosin stain.
	Figure 3. A higher magnification of the edge of the turbellarian shows rhabdite forming gland cells (rh, that provide a mucous coating around the animal) within the mesenchyme (me) and the ciliated epithelium (ce) separated from the underlying tissue as an artifact of fixation. Haematoxylin and eosin stain
	Figures 4a and 4b. Histological sections showing the close association with minimal pathology between a commensal turbellarians (T) and the gills of geoduck clams. Haematoxylin and eosin stain.

Similar turbellarians have been described from numerous species of clams and other bivalves including oysters and scallops in European and North American coastal waters (Bower and McGladdery 1996). The distribution of these turbellarians is probably global although each species may be confined to certain areas or host species. There are no known adverse affect on hosts. Most of these trubellarians are thought to pass freely between the mantle cavity and alimentary canal. As a group they are considered to be midway between being endocommensal and parasitic.

References

Bower, S.M. 2010. Synopsis of Infectious Diseases and Parasites of Commercially Exploited Shellfish. URL: http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/science/species-especes/shellfish-coquillages/diseases-maladies/pages/index-eng.htm

Bower, S.M., J. Blackbourn and G.R. Meyer. 1992. Parasite and symbiont fauna of Japanese littlenecks, Tapes philippinarum (Adams and Reeve, 1850), in British Columbia. Journal of Shellfish Research 11: 13-19.

Lauckner, G. 1983. Diseases of Mollusca: Bivalvia. In: O. Kinne (ed.). Diseases of Marine Animals. Volume II: Introduction, Bivalvia to Scaphopoda. Biologische Anstalt Helgoland, Hamburg, p. 630-632.

 

Citation Information

Bower, S.M. and Blackbourn, J. (2003): Geoduck clam (Panopea abrupta): Anatomy, Histology, Development, Pathology, Parasites and Symbionts: Turbellaria of Geoduck Clams.

URL: http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/science/species-especes/shellfish-coquillages/geopath/turbellaria-eng.htm

Date last revised: March 2010
Comments to Susan Bower

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