Oral Presentation Australian Society for Fish Biology Conference 2018

Using biochemistry to monitor the Murray Crayfish Euastacus armatus (Parastacidae) (#184)

Maggie J Watson 1 , Shane Raidal 1 , Martin Asmus 2
  1. Charles Sturt University, Albury, NSW, Australia
  2. Fisheries NSW – Freshwater Ecosystems, Department of Primary Industries, Narrandera, NSW, Australia

Haemolymph samples were collected from wild and captive held adult male and female Murray Crayfish Euastacus armatus. Haematological analyses were performed in order to determine reference values for this species including protein, albumin, globulin, creatine kinase, aspartate transaminase, glutamate dehydrogenase, glucose, gamma-glutamyltransferase, potassium, sodium, calcium, phosphate, chloride, uric acid, cholesterol, amylase and bile acids. Additionally, protocols for measurements of phenoloxidase and prophenoloxidase (part of the non-specific immune system in crayfish which leads to the melanisation and sclerotisation in stressed animals) are being trialled. Alterations from these reference values can be used to determine stress and disease state of the crayfish. These tests are being used to monitor the health and stress levels of Murray Crayfish intended for use in a large-scale translocation of crayfish from healthy populations to areas of the Murray River that no longer support crayfish. Murray crayfish populations in affected parts of the river dropped by 81% in 2010–11 due to hypoxic water events.