Abstract

To elucidate the immune response of the Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum in a habitat, 20 clams were collected from the west coast of Korea; and immune parameters, including total hemocyte counts (THC), reactive oxygen species (ROS), cell necrosis, apoptosis, and DNA damage within hemocytes were investigated using a portable flow cytometer. The measurements were conducted immediately after sample collection in the field. The analyzed immune parameters were also compared with those measured in the clams kept at 4 °C for 12 h. The immune parameters of the field-collected clams were 737,568/ml of THC, 0.553% of DNA damage, 41.962 A.U. of ROS, 0.121% of necrosis rate, and 0.055% of apoptosis rate, respectively. These values significantly increased when the clams kept at 4 °C for 12 h in the present study, suggesting that a significant modulation of immune responses might have occurred during transformation from sampling site to laboratory. Therefore, in order to investigate the immunity of clam in habitat, it is necessary to consider measures to reduce the change of immunity that may occur during transportation to laboratory after sampling.