Abstract
Hemocytes of the Asian freshwater clam Corbicula fluminea, phagocytosed in vitro infectious Giardia duodenalis cysts. After 15, 30, 60, 90, and 120 min of incubation an average of 22%, 32%, 43%, 54%, and 72% of the cysts were phagocytosed by 22%, 55%, 63%, 81%, and 86% of the hemocytes, respectively. The number of hemocytes showing phagocytosis and the mean number of cysts ingested per hemocyte increased significantly over time (P < 0.01); the numbers of nonphagocytosed cysts significantly decreased (P < 0.02). Extrapolation reveals that C. fluminea can retain by phagocytosis an average of 1.6 x 10(6) G. duodenalis cysts/ml hemolymph. The phagocytic capacity of C. fluminea hemocytes indicates the applicability of this freshwater benthic bivalve for bioindication of contamination of waste waters and agricultural drainage with Giardia cysts.
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