Effects of larval trematode parasitism on the reproductive capacity of Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum in a sandy-mud tidal flat on the west coast of Korea

A study on the Korean Tidal Flats, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Getbol, reveals that larval trematode parasitism significantly impairs the reproductive capacity of Manila clams (Ruditapes philippinarum). Approximately 5.4% of the clam population was infected by three types of larval trematodes, with severe infections (heavy to very heavy) affecting about a third of these clams and potentially preventing reproduction during spawning periods. The research used histological analysis to categorize infection levels and found that heavily infected clams had significantly lower condition indices compared to uninfected ones. This highlights the detrimental impact of parasitism on economically important marine bivalves in tidal flat ecosystems.

Cho, Y.-G., Lee, H.-M., Kim, J.-H., Shin, J.-S., Jeung, H.-D., & Choi, K.-S. (2022). Effects of larval trematode parasitism on the reproductive capacity of Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum in a sandy-mud tidal flat on the west coast of Korea. Frontiers in Marine Science, 9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.936520