EVALUATING THE EFFICACY OF DRY STORAGE OF SHRIMP GILL TISSUE ON FTA CARDS FOR PCR-BASED MONITORING OF THE CILATE RESPONSIBLE FOR SHRIMP BLACK GILL DISEASE

Shrimp black gill (sBG) disease is an emerging epidemic in the US Southeastern shrimp fishery (Gulf of Mexico and subtropical western North Atlantic). The causative agent of sBG disease is a newly described parasitic apostome ciliate, Hyalophysa lynni. Previously, to investigate and monitor sBG disease, a diagnostic PCR-based assay was developed. In this study, in an effort to streamline the disease monitoring process, the use of Flinders Technology Associates (FTA) cards was evaluated for storing shrimp gill tissues dry for downstream PCR and other DNA based assessment. Utilizing a model system consisting of grass shrimp (Palamonetes spp) infected by a closely related but non-pathogenic apostome ciliate H. chattoni, the efficacy of storage of gill tissues dried on FTA cards was evaluated. Efficacy was evaluated by determining PCR detection of ciliate DNA from fresh tissue and tissues stored in either a 70% ethanol solution or dried on FTA cards. There was no significant difference in detection of infection prevalence (p = 0.618) associated with these storage methods. These results suggest that FTA cards are suitable for storing dry shrimp gill tissue for disease diagnostic testing by PCR.

Presentation Preference: Poster

Primary Presenter: Grace Aduasare, Binghamton University (gaduasa1@binghamton.edu)

Authors:

Grace Aduasare, Binghamton University  (gaduasa1@binghamton.edu)

Max Braun, University of Georgia, Skidaway Institute of Oceanography  (mbraun98@me.com)

Marc Frischer, University of Georgia, Skidaway Institute of Oceanography  (Marc.Frischer@skio.uga.edu)