Uzročnik račje kuge: Aphanomyces astaci Schikora, 1906

undergraduate thesis

• Title (english): Causative agent of the crayfish plague: Aphanomyces astaci Schikora, 1906
• Author: Ana Petrović
• Mentor: Ivana Maguire (mentor)
• Granter: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Science; (Department of Biology); Zagreb
• Defense date and country: 2018, Croatia
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: NATURAL SCIENCES; Biology

Abstract

Riječni rakovi važan su element slatkovodnih ekosustava. U posljednjih 200 godina
došlo je do drastičnog smanjenja brojnosti autohtonih vrsta riječnih rakova na području Europe.
Kao jedan od ključnih uzroka tog smanjenja navodi se izbijanje epidemija račje kuge
uzrokovane patogenom Aphanomyces astaci. Infektivne čestice ove bolesti sekundarne su
zoospore koje se stvaraju na krajevima hifa ovog obligatnog parazita. Osim riječnih rakova,
kao vektori širenja ovog patogena opisane su i druge vrste rakova. Postoji pet opisanih sojeva
A. astaci, od kojih su za dva opisani podtipovi. Smatra se da sojevi potječu iz dva vala unosa
alohtonih sjevernoameričkih vrsta riječnih rakova na područje Europe. Opaženo je više oblika
horizontalnog prijenosa A. astaci, poput prijenosa ribama, pticama i antropogenim djelovanjem
(ribolovna oprema, brodovi i trgovina kućnim ljubimcima). Na Balkanu su pronađene latentno
zaražene populacije, za koje se smatra da su zaražene u prva dva vala širenja ovog patogena.
Razlike podtipova unutar sojeva A. astaci, kao i njihov utjecaj na ekosustave u kojima se nalaze,
još su nedovoljno istraženi. Također su potrebna dodatna istraživanja metoda suzbijanja zaraze
ovim patogenom kako bi se umanjio utjecaj A. astaci na europske autohtone vrste riječnih
rakova.

Abstract (english)

Crayfish represent an important element of freshwater ecosystems. However, there has
been a drastic decrease in the number of autochthonous species of crayfish in Europe over the
past 200 years. Epidemic outbreaks of crayfish plague caused by the pathogen Aphanomyces
astaci have been reported as one of the main causes of this decrease in abundance. The infective
units of the disease are secondary zoospores produced at hypha ends of this obligatory parasite.
Apart from crayfish, other crustacean species have also been identified as pathogen’s hosts and
carriers. There are five described genotype groups, two of which have multiple subtypes. It is
considered that the all of the strains originate from two waves of introduction of North
American crayfish species into Europe. Multiple types of horizontal transmission of A. astaci
have been observed, such as by fish, birds and anthropogenic activities (fishing equipment,
ships and pet trade). Latent infections have been discovered in the Balkan region, which are
considered to have been caused by the strains introduced by the first two phases /waves.
Subtype differences within the different strains of A. astaci and their effect on ecosystems in
which they are present are still inadequately studied. Furthermore, additional research of
infection control methods of this pathogen is required to reduce the impact of A. astaci on
European freshwater crayfish and ecosystems in general.

• Keywords: račja kuga
• Language: croatian
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:217:831293
• Study programme: Title: Ecology; Study programme type: university; Study level: undergraduate; Academic / professional title: sveučilišni/a prvostupnik/prvostupnica (baccalaureus/baccalaurea) biologije (sveučilišni/a prvostupnik/prvostupnica (baccalaureus/baccalaurea) biologije)
• Type of resource: Text
• File origin: Born digital
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2018-10-11 12:08:31