Host Defence Reactions of the Shore Crab, Carcinus Maenas (L.): Clearance and Distribution of Injected Test Particles

It is well established that crustaceans can overcome infection and clear foreign material introduced into the circulation (Cornick & Stewart, 1968; Tyson & Jenkin, 1973; Stewart & Zwicker, 1974). In the absence of vertebrate-type specific acquired immunity, the non-specific activity mediated by the circulating blood cells appears to be of considerable importance in resistance to disease (Sindermann, 1971). Among the cellular defence mechanisms of the Crustacea, phagocytosis has received most attention and there is considerable evidence from in vitro studies that this process plays an important part in the removal of foreign particles from the blood (McKay & Jenkin, 1970a; Paterson & Stewart, 1974; Tyson & Jenkin, 1974; Paterson, Stewart & Zwicker, 1976; Smith & Ratcliffe, 1978). Such studies, however, may not always reflect the true in vivo condition, and there is a great need for correlated in vitro and in vivo investigations.