Effects of blood extraction on the mortality of Malaysian horseshoe crabs (Tachypleus gigas)

John, Akbar and Khan Chowdhury, Ahmed Jalal and Kasim, Zaleha and Amstrong, Peter B. and Yunus, Kamaruzzaman (2011) Effects of blood extraction on the mortality of Malaysian horseshoe crabs (Tachypleus gigas). Marine and Freshwater Behaviour and Physiology, 44 (5). pp. 321-327. ISSN 1023–6244 (P), 1029–0362 (O)

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Abstract

Horseshoe crabs provide the important biomedical products, Limulus Amebocyte Lysate (LAL) and Tachypleus Amebocyte Lysate (TAL), which are produced by lysing the blood cells (amebocytes) using endotoxin-free distilled water. LAL/TAL is used to detect and quantify lipopolysaccharide (endotoxin), an important toxin of Gram-negative bacteria. Horseshoe crabs are the sole source for LAL/TAL and their fishery for the production of LAL/TAL is of concern to the sustained management of the species. This study investigated the mortality of the Malaysian horseshoe crab (Tachypleus gigas) related to blood extraction, with the aim of providing a basis for the sustainable management of the local fishery of this animal. We showed that the mortality rate of T. gigas due to the bleeding process is slightly higher than the values which has previously been reported for its conspecific, the American horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus). Overall mortalities of bled horseshoe crabs were 17.8% (male = 18.75%; female = 17.2%), while mortalities of unbled crabs were 3.5%. The quantification of the mortality due to the extent of bleeding commensurate with the commercial production of LAL/TAL provides a basis for the rational management of T. gigas in situations where harvest for LAL/TAL production is imposed on local populations of the animal.

Item Type:	Article (Journal)
Additional Information:	3575/22563
Uncontrolled Keywords:	horseshoe crab, Malaysia, Tachypleus gigas , blood products, LAL test, TAL test
Subjects:	Q Science > Q Science (General)
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button):	Kulliyyah of Science Kulliyyah of Science > Institute of Oceanography and Maritime Studies
Depositing User:	Professor Dr. Kamaruzzaman Yunus
Date Deposited:	15 Mar 2012 11:53
Last Modified:	07 Dec 2017 13:29
URI:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/22563

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