Pathogenicity of Halocrusticida okinawaensis to larvae of five crustacean species

Pathogenicity of Halocrusticida okinawaensis, the pathogenic fungi of the swimming crab, Portunus trituberculatus, to larvae of five crustacean species (P. trituberculatus, Chionoecetes opilio, Artemia salina, Charybdis japonica and Crangon cassiope) was examined. All species were infected with H. okinawaensis. Because there were differences in the pathogenicity of H. okinawaensis used in each trial, the susceptibility of the five crustacean species to H. okinawaensis could not be directly compared. Brine shrimp (A. salina) larvae showed a high susceptibility to H. okinawaensis and therefore, A. salina can be considered to be an alternative experimental host for this pathogen.