Protistan parasites as mortality drivers in cold water crab fisheries

From a historical perspective, several protistan taxa, including the recently re-aligned Microsporidia, have been associated with or identified as causes of mortalities in crustacean populations. Depending upon the host species, associated protistan prevalences could be as low as 5% or approach 100%. It has generally been assumed that reported prevalences translated directly into significant mortalities that could impact the distribution and abundance of affected populations. However, this assumption may be incorrect especially when the dynamics of host-pathogen-environment interactions are not entirely understood. We will discuss the presumed impact of several protistan pathogens on temperate and cold water commercial crab species. By using selected examples such as a ciliate in the Dungeness crab (Cancer magister) and Hematodinium sp. infections in North Pacific crabs, we will attempt to contrast differences between prevalence and mortality, acute and chronic infections/mortalities, age or size selectivity of affected population, and geographically restricted and widespread epizootics. We will also briefly discuss the potential impact of environmental changes such as climate change and ocean acidification on both host and protistan pathogen.