Climate and season are associated with prevalence and distribution of trans-hemispheric blue crab reovirus (Callinectes sapidus reovirus 1)

Mingli Zhao; Donald C. Behringer; Jamie Bojko; Andrew S. Kough; Louis Plough; Camila Prestes dos Santos Tavares; Alfonso Aguilar-Perera; Omar Shamir Reynoso; Govind Seepersad; Omardath Maharaj; Matthew B. Sanders; Daniela Carnales; Graciela Fabiano; Daniel Carnevia; Mark A. Freeman; Nicole A. M. Atherley; Lexa D. Medero-Hernández; Eric J. Schott

doi:10.3354/meps13405

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MEPS 647:123-133 (2020) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps13405

Climate and season are associated with prevalence and distribution of trans-hemispheric blue crab reovirus (Callinectes sapidus reovirus 1)

Mingli Zhao¹, Donald C. Behringer^2,3, Jamie Bojko⁴, Andrew S. Kough⁵, Louis Plough⁶, Camila Prestes dos Santos Tavares⁷, Alfonso Aguilar-Perera⁸, Omar Shamir Reynoso⁹, Govind Seepersad¹⁰, Omardath Maharaj¹⁰, Matthew B. Sanders¹¹, Daniela Carnales¹², Graciela Fabiano^12,13, Daniel Carnevia¹², Mark A. Freeman¹⁴, Nicole A. M. Atherley^14,15, Lexa D. Medero-Hernández^16,18, Eric J. Schott^17,*

¹Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD 21202, USA
²University of Florida, Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, Gainesville, FL 32653, USA
³University of Florida, Emerging Pathogens Institute, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA
⁴Teesside University, School of Health and Life Sciences, Middlesbrough TS1 3BA, UK
⁵John G. Shedd Aquarium, Haerther Center for Conservation Research, Chicago, IL 60605, USA
⁶University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Cambridge, MD 21613, USA
⁷Integrated Group of Aquaculture and Environmental Studies, Federal University of Paraná, Rua dos Funcionários 1540, Curitiba, PR 80035-050, Brazil
⁸Departamento de Biología Marina, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
⁹National Authority for Maritime Affairs, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
¹⁰Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, University of the West Indies, St Augustine Campus, Trinidad, West Indies
¹¹Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Weymouth, Dorset DT4 8UB, UK
¹²Veterinary Faculty, Fisheries Research Institute, Tomas Basañez 1160, Uruguay
¹³National Directorate of Aquatic Resources, Atlantic Fisheries Management Unit, La Paloma, Rocha, Uruguay
¹⁴Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Basseterre, Saint Kitts, West Indies
¹⁵Caribaea Initiative, Université des Antilles, Pointe-á-Pitre, Guadeloupe
¹⁶Universidad Ana G. Méndez, Recinto de Cupey, San Juan, PR 00926, USA
¹⁷Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Baltimore, MD 21202, USA
¹⁸Present address: Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University, Tallahassee, FL 32307, USA

*Corresponding author: schott@umces.edu

ABSTRACT: Among the many Callinectes spp. across the western Atlantic, the blue crab C. sapidus has the broadest latitudinal distribution, encompassing both tropical and temperate climates. Its life history varies latitudinally, from extended overwintering at high latitudes to year-round activity in tropical locations. Callinectes sapidus reovirus 1 (CsRV1) is a pathogenic virus first described in North Atlantic C. sapidus and has recently been detected in southern Brazil. Little information exists about CsRV1 prevalence at intervening latitudes or in overwintering blue crabs. Using a quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) method, this study investigated CsRV1 prevalence in C. sapidus across latitudinal differences in temperature and crab life history, as well as in additional Callinectes spp. and within overwintering C. sapidus. CsRV1 prevalence in C. sapidus was significantly correlated with high water temperature and blue crab winter dormancy. Prevalence of CsRV1 in C. sapidus on the mid-Atlantic coast was significantly lower in winter than in summer. CsRV1 infections were not detected in other Callinectes spp. These findings revealed that CsRV1 is present in C. sapidus across their range, but not in other Callinectes species, with prevalence associated with temperature and host life history. Such information helps us to better understand the underlying mechanisms that drive marine virus dynamics under changing environmental conditions.

KEY WORDS: CsRV1 · Disease ecology · Dormancy · Latitudinal gradient · Life history · Population density · Temperature

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Cite this article as: Zhao M, Behringer DC, Bojko J, Kough AS and others (2020) Climate and season are associated with prevalence and distribution of trans-hemispheric blue crab reovirus (Callinectes sapidus reovirus 1). Mar Ecol Prog Ser 647:123-133. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps13405

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