Coccidiosis during octopus senescence: Preparing for parasite outbreak

Abstract

Heavy infection by Aggregata octopiana was commonly observed during histological examination of the digestive tract of wild and cultured post-spawned females of the common octopus Octopus vulgaris from Ria de Vigo (NW Spain). Observations on associated histopathology revealed large number of sporogonial stages with high invasive damage resulting in destruction of host tissue architecture and spreading of infective forms into the lumen of infected organs. The general picture of the parasite outbreak is discussed regarding the ecological trade-off of the parasite in senescent octopus.