Cherax quadricarinatus Resistant to Chequa iflavirus: A Pilot Study

Abstract

High mortalities of redclaw crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus) were reported from northern Queensland farms, mainly attributed to two viruses, Chequa iflavirus and Athtab bunyavirus. From a research population of redclaw crayfish with these pre-existing viral infections, five individuals were found uninfected by Chequa iflavirus but infected with Athtab bunyavirus. A pilot study was designed to examine if progeny crayfish from this cohort were resistant to infections by Chequa iflavirus. Two experiments measured changes in viral load with RT-qPCR. Seven donors, four negative controls and six crayfish injected with a purified virus or saline were used. In Experiment 1, the purified viral inoculum was injected into the crayfish, and they were bled 14 days post-injection (dpi). In Experiment 2, haemolymph containing the viruses was injected into the same crayfish and they were bled at 24 hpi, 48 hpi, 7 dpi and 14 dpi. In Exp. 1, the crayfish cleared Chequa iflavirus infections within 14 dpi, while in Exp. 2, it was within 24 hpi. One mortality was observed, but that crayfish had cleared the virus before dying. The number of copies of Athtab bunyavirus and the weights of the crayfish did not differ significantly (p > 0.05) between the control and injected crayfish. Histology of crayfish all showed that the haemolymph vessels were clear of granulomas, suggesting no bacterial involvement. There was no melanisation in the gill tissue of control crayfish, but it was prominent in virus-injected crayfish. Neither group had haemocytic infiltration of the muscle fibres. Anti-viral immune mechanisms of RNA interference and Cherax quadricarinatus Down Syndrome Cell Adhesion Molecule (DSCAM) are hypothesised to be involved in viral clearance. We conclude that these crayfish were resistant to Chequa iflavirus infections and could be commercially exploited by aquaculturists as a nuclear breeding stock if numbers are increased over time.