Presence of Aphanomyces astaci in Pontastacus (Astacus) leptodactylus, detected in Polyfytou lake
Published:
May 18, 2026
Updated:
2026-05-18
Keywords:
Aphanomyces astaci Pontastacus (Astacus) leptodactylus molecular analysis lake Polyfytou crayfish plague
Abstract
A case of Aphanomyces astaci infection in Pontastacus (Astacus) leptodactylus, is described in the present study. During summer season, in June 2023, in lake Polyfytou, 60 individuals of crayfish were collected from five different sites of it and transferred to the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, at University of Thessaly. According to macroscopic and microscopic examination, 32 crayfish that exhibited obvious signs of infection, such as carapace erosion, melanized body patches and spots on their body, underparts, tail, pleiopods and walking legs joints, or individuals with amputation of the walking legs and visible inking at the amputation site, were separated for further analysis. Molecular analysis showed that 32/60 samples from lake Polyfytou were positive to Aphanomyces astaci. Further research is required to investigate the presence of Aphanomyces astaci, including more freshwater crayfish species, sites and temperature ranges.
Article Details
- How to Cite
-
Karamaligas, I., Gourzioti, E., & Pantazis, P. (2026). Presence of Aphanomyces astaci in Pontastacus (Astacus) leptodactylus, detected in Polyfytou lake. Journal of the Hellenic Veterinary Medical Society, 77(2), 10369–10374. https://doi.org/10.12681/jhvms.39642 (Original work published May 15, 2026)
- Issue
- Vol. 77 No. 2 (2026)
- Section
- Research Articles
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
· Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
· Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g. post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
· Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (preferably in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work.
Downloads
Download data is not yet available.
References
Ackefors HEG (2008) Freshwater crayfish farming technology in the
s: a European and Global perspective, Fish and Fisheries
(4):337-359. https://doi.org/ 10.1046/j.1467-2979.2000.00023.x
Alderman DJ, Polglase JL (1987) Aphanomyces astaci: isolation and
culture. J Fish Dis 9 (5):367-379.
Alderman DJ, Polglase JL (1988) Pathogens, Parasites and Commensals.
In HOLDICH D.M., LOWERY R.S. (eds.), Freshwater Crayfish:
Biology, Management and Exploitation, Croom Helm, London,
p. 167-212.
Alvanou MV, Lattos A, Cheimonopoulou MTh, Michaelidis B, Apostolidis
AP, Giantsis IA (2024) First detection of Aphanomyces astaci
REFERENCES
and its potential responsibility for mass mortalities of Pontastacus
(Astacus) leptodactylus in Greek lakes. J Biol Res-Thessalon 31:1.
Anastácio, PM, Ferreira MP, Banha F, Capinha C, Rabaça JE, (2013)
Waterbirdmediated passive dispersal is a viable process for crayfish
(Procambarus clarkii). Aquat Ecol 48:1–10.
Caprioli R, Mrugała A, Di Domenico M, Curini V, Giansante C, Cammà
C (2018) Aphanomyces astaci genotypes involved in recent crayfish
plague outbreaks in central Italy. Dis Aquat Org 130:209–219.
Cerenius L, Soderhall K (1984) Repeated zoospore emergence from
isolated spore cysts of Aphanomyces astaci. Exp Mycol 8:370–377.
Cerenius L, Bangyeekhun E, Keyser P, Söderhäll I, Söderhäll K (2003)
Host prophenoloxidase expression in freshwater crayfish is linked
to increased resistance to the crayfish plague fungus, Aphanomyces
astaci Cell Microbiol 5, pp. 353-357.
Di Domenico M, Curini V, Caprioli R, Giansante C, Mrugała A, Mojžišová
M, Cammà C Petrusek A (2021) Real-Time PCR Assays for
Rapid Identification of Common Aphanomyces astaci Genotypes.
Front Ecol Evol 9: 597585.
Diéguez-Uribeondo J, Söderhäll K (1993) Procambarus clarkii as a
vector for the crayfish plague fungus Aphanomyces astaci Schikora.
Aquac. Fish Manag 24:761–765.
Diéguez-Uribeondo J, Huang T, Cerenius L, Söderhäll K (1995) Physiological
adaptation of an Aphanomyces astaci strain isolated from the
freshwater crayfish Procambarus clarkii. Mycol Res 99:574–578.
Directive 86/609/EEC, Recommendations for euthanasia of experimental
animals: Part 2 (1997) Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications
of the European Communities.
Edgerton BF, Evans LH, Stephens FJ, Overstreet RM (2002) Synopsis
of freshwater crayfish diseases and commensally organism. Aquaculture
:57 – 135.
Fürst M (1995) On the recovery of Astacus astacus L. populations aer
an epizootic of the crayfish plague (Aphanomyces astaci Schikora).
Freshwater Crayfish 8:565-576.
Harlioglu MM, Harlioglu AG (2004) The harvest of freshwater crayfish,
Astacus leptodactylus (Eschscholtz, 1823) in Turkey. Rev in Fish
Biol and Fish 14:415–419.
Holdich DM (2002) Background and functional morphology. In Holdich
DM (ed) Biology of freshwater crayfish. Blackwell Science,
Oxford: pp 3−29.
Huang T, Cerenius L, Söderhäll K (1994) Analysis of genetic diversity
in the crayfish plague fungus, Aphanomyces astaci, by random
amplification of polymorphic DNA. Aquaculture 126:1–9.
Jussila J, Vrezec A, Makkonen J, Kortet R, Kokko H (2015) “Invasive
Crayfish and Their Invasive Diseases in Europe with the Focus
on the Virulence Evolution of the Crayfish Plague” Biological
Invasions in Changing Ecosystems. Vectors, Ecological Impacts,
Management and Predictions, Chapter 8. Publisher: De Gruyter Ltd,
Warsaw/Berlin, Editors: J. Canning-Clode: pp 183-211.
Kaldre K, Paaver T, Hurt M, Grandjean F (2017) First records of the
non-indigenous signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus) and its
threat to noble crayfish (Astacus astacus) populations in Estonia.
Biol Inv 19:2771–2776.
Kokko H, Harlioglu MM, Aydin H, Makkonen J, Gökmen G, Aksu Ö
(2018) Observations of crayfish plague infections in commercially
important narrow-clawed crayfish populations in Turkey. Knowl
Manag Aquat Ecosyst 419:10.
Kouba A, Petrusek A, Kozák P (2014) Continental-wide distribution
of crayfish species in Europe: Update and maps. Knowl Manag
Aquat Ecosyst 413:05.
Kozubíková E, Petrusek A, Ďuriš Z, Martín MP, Diéguez-Uribeon-do J,
Oidtmann B (2008) The old menace is back: recent crayfish plague
outbreaks in the Czech Republic. Aquaculture 274:208-17.
Kozubíková E, Viljamaa-Dirks S, Heinikainen S, Petrusek A (2011a)
Spiny-cheek crayfish Orconectes limosus carry a novel genotype
of the crayfish plague pathogen Aphanomyces astaci. J Invertebr
Pathol 108:214–216.
Kozubíková E, Vrålstad T, Filipová L, Petrusek A (2011b) Re-examination
of the prevalence of Aphanomyces astaci in North American
crayfish populations in Central Europe by TaqMan MGB real-time
PCR. Dis of Aqua Org 97:113-125.
Kušar D, Vrezec A, Ocepek M, Jenčič V (2013) Aphanomyces astaci
in wild crayfish populations in Slovenia: First report of persistent
infection in a stone crayfish Austropotamobius torrentium population.
Dis of Aqua Org 103:157–169.
Longshaw M (2011) Diseases of crayfish: A review, J Invertebr Pathol
: 54–70.
Makkonen J, Jussila J, Kortet R, Vainikka A, Kokko H (2012b) Differing
virulence of Aphanomyces astaci isolates and elevated resistance
of noble crayfish Astacus astacus against crayfish plague. Dis of
Aqua Org 102:129–136.
Makkonen J, Kokko H, Vainikka A, Kortet R, Jussila J (2014) Dose-dependent
mortality of the noble crayfish (Astacus astacus) to different
strains of the crayfish plague (Aphanomyces astaci). J Invertebr
Pathol 115:86–91.
Mojžišová M, Mrugała A, Kozubíková-Balcarová E, Vlach P, Svobodová
J, Kouba A (2020). Crayfish plague in Czechia: outbreaks from
novel sources and testing for chronic infections. J Invertebr Pathol
:107390.
Oidtmann B, Schaefers N, Cerenius L, Soderhall K, Hoffmann RW
(2004) Detection of genomic DNA of the crayfish plague fungus
Aphanomyces astaci (Oomycete) in clinical samples by PCR. Vet
Microbiol 100 (3–4):269–282.
Oidtmann B, Geiger S, Steinbauer P, Culas A, Hoffmann RW (2006)
Detection of Aphanomyces astaci in North American crayfish by
polymerase chain reaction. Dis of Aqua Org 72:53–64.
OIE (World Organisation for Animal Health) (2019) Manual of Diagnostic
Tests for Aquatic Animals. Available online at: https://www.
oie.int/standard-setting/ aquatic-manual (accessed August 06, 2020).
Panteleit J., Keller N. S., Diéguez-Uribeondo J., and Makkonen J. (2018)
Hidden sites in the distribution of the crayfish plague pathogen
Aphanomyces astaci in Eastern Europe: relicts of genetic groups
from older outbreaks? J Invertebr Pathol 157:117–124.
Pavic D, Grbin D, Gregov M, Curko J, Vladušic T, Šver L, Miljanovic
A, Bielen A (2022) Variations in the Sporulation Efficiency of Pathogenic
Freshwater Oomycetes in Relation to the Physico-Chemical
Properties of Natural Waters. Microorg10:520.
Peiró DF, Almerão MP, Delaunay C, Jussila J, Makkonen J, Bouchon
D (2016) First detection of the crayfish plague pathogen Aphanomyces
astaci in South America: a high potential risk to native
crayfish. Hydrob 781:181–190.
Perdikaris C, Konstantinidis Ev, Georgiadis Chr, Kouba Ant (2017)
Freshwater crayfish distribution update and maps for Greece: Combining
literature and citizen-science data Article in Knowledge and
Management of Aquatic Ecosystems. 418:51.
Rezinciuc S, Sandoval-Sierra JV, Oidtmann B, Diéguez-Uribeondo J
(2015) “The biology of crayfish plague pathogen: current answers
to most frequent questions,” in Freshwater Crayfish: A Global Overview,
eds T. Kawai, Z. Faulkes, and G. Scholtz (Boca Raton, FL:
CRC Press):182–204.
Schikora F (1903) Uber die Krebspest and ihren Erreger. Fisherei Zeitung
:353-355.
Shields JD (2012) The Impact of Pathogens on Exploited Populations
of Decapod Crustaceans. J Invertebr Pathol 110:211-224.
Söderhäll K, Dick MW, Clark G, Fürst M, Constantinescu O (1991)
Isolation of Saprolegnia parasitica from the crayfish Astacus leptodactylus.
Aquaculture 92:121–125.
Souty-Grosset C, Holdich DM, Noël PY, Reynolds JD, Haffner P (2006)
Atlas of crayfish in Europe, Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle,
Paris, Patrimoines Naturels: pp 64-187.
Stamou, G, Kourkoutmani P, Michaloudi E (2022) The Inland Cladocera
and Copepoda Fauna in Greece. Diver14 (11): 997.
Tsioptsias C, Samiotis G, Kaklidis N, Pekridis G, Amanatidou E (2019)
Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Natural and Artificial Lakes in
Western Macedonia, Greece. 16th International Conference on Environmental
Science and Technology. Rhodes Greece, Global NEST
International Conference on Environmental Science & Technology
CEST: pp 769.
Unestam T, Weiss DW (1970) The host-parasite interaction relationship
between freshwater crayfish and the crayfish disease fungus Aphanomyces
astaci: responses to infection by susceptible and resistant
species. J Gen Microbiol 60: 77–90.
Ungureanu E, Mojžišová M, Tangerman M, Ion MC, Pârvulescu L,
Petrusek A (2020) The spatial distribution of Aphanomyces astaci
genotypes across Europe: introducing the first data from Ukraine.
Freshw. Crayfish 25:77–87.
Vey A, Söderhäll K, Ajaxon R (1983) Susceptibility of Orconectes
limosus Raff. to crayfish plague. Freshw. Crayfish 5:192–291.
Viljamaa-Dirks S, Heinikainen S, Nieminen M, Vennerström P, Pelkonen
S (2011) Persistent infection by crayfish plague Aphanomyces astaci
in a noble crayfish population—a case report. Bull Eur Assoc Fish
Pathol 31:182−188.
Waterstrat P, Pinkham R (2005) Evaluation of Eugenol as an Anesthetic
for the American Lobster Homarus americanus. J World Aqua Soc
3:420-424.
