Abstract
Concentrations of 13 elements were determined for three tissues (gill, hepatopancreas, muscle) in diseased crabs from a contaminated estuary (Pamlico River, NC), and in non-diseased crabs from both the contaminated estuary and a relatively uncontaminated area (Albemarle Sound, NC) during the fall 1989 and summer 1990. The diseased crabs had lesions which completely penetrated their dorsal integument, while the non-diseased crabs lacked lesions.
Sediments within the contaminated area showed enrichment of arsenic, cadmium, manganese, titanium and vanadium relative to the uncontaminated area. Levels of aluminum, arsenic, cobalt, manganese, nickel, titanium, vanadium and zinc were significantly higher in both gill and hepatopancreas in crabs from the contaminated area. Manganese was always highest in the diseased crabs in all tissues measured. The concentrations of the remaining elements were greater in the gills of diseased crabs, while highest values of these elements in the hepatopancreas varied among the diseased and non-diseased crabs from the polluted area. Conversely, copper levels were always highest in all tissues in crabs from the uncontaminated area, and typically lowest in the diseased crabs. Concentrations of aluminum and arsenic were also significantly greater in the muscle tissue of crabs from the contaminated area, but no distinct trend was evident with regard to diseased versus non-diseased crabs.
Arsenic was the only element accumulated by crabs in the contaminated area which has a known toxic affect on the tissue responsible for cuticle synthesis and repair (hypodermis) in crustaceans. Metals also accumulated could possibly act synergetically to compromise normal metabolism. The results suggest that metal and trace element accumulation plays a minor direct role in the local etiology of shell disease.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Baross JA, Tester PA, Morita RY (1978) Incidence, microscopy, and etiology of exoskeleton lesions in the tanner crab, Chionoecetes tanneri. J Fish Res Board Can 35:1141–1149
Cipriani GR, Wheeler RS, Sizemore RK (1980) Characterization of brown spot disease of Gulf coast shrimp. J Invert Pathol 36:255–263
Cook DW, Lofton SR (1973) Chitinoclastic bacteria associated with shell disease in Penaeus shrimp and the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus. J Wildlife Diseases 9:154–159
Couch, JA (1977) Ultrastructural study of lesions in gills of a marine shrimp exposed to cadmium. J Invert Pathol 29:267–288
Depledge MH (1989) Re-evaluation of metabolic requirements for copper and zinc in decapod crustaceans. Mar Environ Res 27:115–126
Depledge MH, Bjerregaard P (1989) Haemolymph protein composition and copper levels in decapod crustaceans. Heloglander Meersuntersuchungen 43:207–223
Doughtie DG, Conklin PJ, Rao KR (1983) Cuticular lesions induced in grass shrimp exposed to hexavalent chromium. J Invert Pathol 42:249–258
Eisenberg M, Topping JJ (1984) Trace metal residues in shellfish from Maryland waters, 1976–1980. J Environ Sci Health B 19(7):649–671
Eisler R (1981) Trace Metal Concentrations in Marine Organisms. Pergamon Press, NY
Ellington MD (1984) Major and trace element composition of phosphorites of the North Carolina continental margin. MS Thesis. East Carolina Univ, Greenville, NC
Engel DW (1987) Metal regulation and molting in the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus: Copper, zinc, and metallothionein. Biol Bull 172:69–82
Engel DW, Brouwer M (1984) Cadmium-binding proteins in the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus: Laboratory-field comparison. Mar Environ Res 14:139–151
Epifanio, CE (1988) Transport of invertebrate larvae between estuaries and the continental shelf. Amer Fish Soc Sympos 3:104–114
Gemperline PJ, Miller K, West TL, Weinstein JE, Hamilton JC, Bray JT (1992) Chemometrics, trace metals and blue crab shell disease. Anal Chem 64:523–532
Gopalan UK, Young JS (1975) Incidence of shell disease in shrimp in the New York Bight. Mar Pollut Bull 6:149–153
Hall RA, Zook EG, Meaburn GM (1978) National Marine Fisheries Service survey of trace elements in the fishery resource. NMFS SSRF-721
Harding SC, Brown HS (1976) Distribution of selected trace elements in sediments of Pamlico River Estuary, North Carolina. Environ Geol 1:181–191
Henry RP, Kormanik GA (1985) Carbonic anhydrase activity and calcium deposition during the molt cycle of the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus. J Crustacean Biol 5:234–241
Hess E (1937) A shell disease in lobsters (Homarus americanus) caused by chitinovorous bacteria. J Biol Board Can 3(4):358–362
Kneip TJ, Hazen RE (1979) Deposit and mobility of cadmium in a marsh-cove ecosystem and the relation to cadmium concentration in the biota. Environ Health Perspectives 28:67–73
Krishnaja AP, Rege MS, Joshi AG (1987) Toxic effects of certain heavy metals (Hg, Cd, Pb, As, and Se) on the intertidal crab Scylla serrata. Mar Environ Res 21:109–119
Mance G (1987) Pollution threat of heavy metals in aquatic environments. Elsevier Applied Scientific, NY
McKenna S, Jansen M, Pulley MG (1990) Shell disease of blue crabs, Callinectes sapidus, in the Pamlico River, North Carolina. North Carolina Department of Natural Resources and Community Development, Division of Marine Fisheries. Spec Sci Rep Number 51
McConaugha JR (1988) Export and reinvasion of larvae as regulators of estuarine decapod populations. Am Fish Soc Symp 3:90–103
National Academy of Sciences-National Research Council (1989) Recommended dietary allowances, 10th ed. National Academy Press, Washington, DC
Nimmo DWR, Lightner DV, Bahner LH (1977) Effects of cadmium on the shrimps, Penaeus duorarum, Palaemonetes pugio, and Palaemonetes vulgaris. In: Vernberg FJ, Calabrese A, Thurberg FB, Vernberg W (eds.) Physiological Responses of Marine Biota to Pollutants. Academic Press, NY pp 131–183
Noga EJ, Engel DW, Arroll TW (1990) Shell disease in blue crabs, Callinectes sapidus, from the Albemarle-Pamlico Estuary. Report to the North Carolina Department of Natural Resources and Community Development, Report No 90-22
O'Conner JM (1983) Cadmium in the edible flesh of blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus) and the northern lobster (Homarus amricanus). Report to NOAA Northeast Office, 7 pp
Pearce JB (1972) The effects of solid waste disposal on benthic communities in the New York Bight. In: Ruivo M (ed.) Marine Pollution and Sea Life. Fishing News (Books) Ltd, London, pp 404–411
Rainbow PS (1985) Accumulation of Zn, Cu, and Cd by crabs and barnacles. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 21:699–686
Riggs SR, Powers ER, Bray JT, Stout PM, Hamilton C, Ames D, Lucas S, Moore R, Watson J, Williamson M (1989) Heavy metal pollutants in organic-rich muds of the Pamlico River estuarine system: Their concentration, distribution, and effects upon benthic environments and water quality. Report to the North Carolina Department of Natural Resources and Community Development
Rosen B (1967) Shell disease of the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus. J Invert Pathol 9:348–353
-- (1970) Shell disease of aquatic crustaceans. In: S. Snieszko (ed.) A Symposium on Diseases of Fishes and Shellfishes. Amer Fish Soc Spec Publ No. 5, Washington, DC, pp 409–415
Salia SB, Segar DA (1979) Metals Subpanel Report. In: O'Conner JS, Stanford HM (eds.) Chemical Pollutants of the New York Bight; Priorities for Research. NOAA, pp 10–19, 121–150
Sanders M (1984) Metals in crab, oyster, and sediment in two South Carolina estuaries. Mar Pollut Bull 15:159–161
Spencer H, Kramer L, Osis D, and Wiatrowski E (1981) Effects of aluminum hydroxide on fluoride and calcium metabolism. J Environ Pathology 5:33–41
Van Engel WA (1957) The blue crab and its fishery in the Chesapeake Bay. Part 1-Reproduction, early development, growth, and migration. Commer Fish Rev 20:6–17
Weinstein JE (1991) Wound repair and metal content of blue crabs, Callinectes sapidus, from the Albemarle-Pamlico estuarine system. Ms Thesis. East Carolina Univ., Greenvile, NC
Williams AB, Duke TW (1979) Crabs (Arthropoda: Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura). In: Hart CW Jr., Fuller SL (eds.) Pollution Ecology of Estuarine Invertebrates. Academic Press, NY, pp 171–233
Young JS, Pearce JB (1975) Shell disease in crabs and lobsters from New York Bight. Mar Pollut Bull 6:101–105
Zatta P (1984) Zinc transport in the haemolymph of Carcinus maenas (Crustacea:Decapoda). J Mar Biol Assoc UK 64:801–807
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Weinstein, J.E., West, T.L. & Bray, J.T. Shell disease and metal content of blue crabs, Callinectes sapidus, from the Albemarle-Pamlico Estuarine System, North Carolina. Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 23, 355–362 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00216245
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00216245