The protozoan parasite Perkinsus atlanticus elicits a unique defensive response in the clam Tapes semidecussatus

The venerid clams, Tapes decussatus and T. semidecussatus, develop a singular defensive response to Perkinsus atlanticus infection. This reaction involves the redifferentiation of recruited granulocytes and the expression de novo of the polypeptide p225. To determine whether the association of this defensive process with the natural parasitism by P. atlanticus is unique, the inflammatory response elicited by inoculations of bacteria, algae and non-viable P. atlanticus pre-zoosporangia in the clam T. semidecussatus was shown. Inoculated areas were heavily infiltrated by granulocytes and delimited by myofibroblast-like cells and extracellular matrix. While bacteria and algae were phagocytosed by the infiltrated granulocytes, pre-zoosporangia were not. After 40 days, neither cell redifferentiation nor the expression of p225 was observed. These findings indicate that both redifferentiation and p225 expression are specifically associated with P. atlanticus infection. After 5-bromodeoxyuridine administration, only a few cells were labelled either in the inoculated zone or in the cellular reaction around P. atlanticus meronts. Significant differences between untreated and inoculated groups were observed in the epicardic connective tissue soon after injection. These results suggest that this anatomical region could be the main site of haemocyte proliferation stimulated after inoculation of foreign bodies in T. semidecussatus.