Improved Sampling of Hemolymph and Screening of Anti-Coagulants of Hemocytes in the Snail <em>Babylonia areolata</em>

Abstract

Our aim was to improve sampling of hemolymph from the snail Babylonia areolata in order to evaluate the physiological and immune capacities of hemocytes in aquaculture. We also identified appropriate types of hemolymph anti-coagulants for B. areolata. Hemolymph samples were collected using an improved foot plantaris puncture method. We screened five types of anti-coagulants from Penaeid shrimp (A), marine decapods (B), abalone (C), and oyster (D), as well as a home-made anti-coagulant (E), to act against Babylonia areolata hemocytes on the basis of cell death rate and hemocyte aggregation. We improved the former foot plantaris puncture method and identified the home-made anti-coagulant as the best anti-coagulant from the five which we tested.