Bench-top rearing system for polychaete worms as an experimental model

Marine invertebrate species of polychaetes represent ecologically keystone

species in food chains. The culture of marine polychaete is being developed for

several reasons such as to serve as live feed for crustacean broodstock in

aquaculture and in research and environmental monitoring. However, the role of

polychaetes as indicator or reservoir organisms in disease monitoring and

transmission is not adequate in the literature. We describe here a compact bench-

top culture system for polychaete to use as an experimental laboratory model for

research activities. This low-cost polychaete rearing system needs 2’ x 2’ bench

space can produce different life cycle stages for 3 to 6 months (Fig. 1 & 2) with

minimum maintenance and care. The main objective was to use an experimental

laboratory model of polychaete species to probe pathogen transfer. Two species viz.,

Marphysa sp. and Perinereis sp. have been successfully cultured for experiments

with slight modifications of the soil substratum to mimic its natural habitat. We used

this bench top rearing system and model species successfully for transmission

studies of Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei between shrimp to polychaete and vice

versa. The system was found robust and cost effective for the culture of polychaetes,

generating all life cycle stages and adult worms (gravid) in about 90 days. Hence,

monitoring of vertical transmission of pathogens was also possible. Researchers

may find this system adequate to use polychaetes as emerging model organisms in

the field of aquatic animal diseases, bio-enrichment studies and environmental

monitoring in controlled laboratory conditions.

Use of polychaetes as an experimental laboratory model for disease transmission studies

Polychaete worm development stages

Life cycle stages Life cycle stages

Fertilysed egg
Nectochaete
(early)

1 day 2 days

Phototrochophore
Nectochaete

1 day 2 days

Metatrochophore
(early) Nectochaete
(late)
Settled in the sediment

2 days 45 days

Metatrochophore
Juvenile
(late)

1 day

A. Navaneeth Krishnan, S. Kannappan, P. Ezhil Praveena and K. P. Jithendran