Prevalence of bacteria in the spermathecae of female snow crab, Chionoecetes opilio (Brachyura: Majidae)

Autor: Mikio Moriyasu, Khadra Benhalima
Rok vydání: 2001
Předmět:
Zdroj: Advances in Decapod Crustacean Research ISBN: 9789048156887
DOI: 10.1007/978-94-017-0645-2_29
Popis: The spermathecal contents of primiparous, multiparous and barren female snow crabs were observed by a scanning electron microscope. Bacteria colonies were observed with a significantly higher frequency in the spermathecae of primiparous and old barren females. Bacteria infect the spermathecae and destroy the spermatophores and spermatozoa inside. These observations suggest that bacteria in the spermathecae do not exclude opportunistic microbes by modifying pH of the medium as suggested in the literature. The prevalence of bacteria in primiparous and old barren females suggests that they infect individuals with a weak anti-microbial protection. The absence of bacteria in the highly acidic seminal fluid derived from males upon copulation suggests that it may provide anti-microbial protection. Bacteria do not seem to be able to survive in an anaerobic environment for a long period.
Databáze: OpenAIRE