Signal crayfish as vectors in crayfish plague in Britain

Abstract

An outbreak of crayfish plague (caused by the fungus Aphanomyces astaci) is described in white-clawed crayfish, Austopotamobius pallipes, in enclosed pond culture in an area of England from which no disease outbreaks have yet been reported. Signal crayfish, Pacifastacus leniusculus, from commercial culture, introduced to adjacent ponds shortly before the disease outbreak, appear to have been the disease carriers.