The oyster pathogens Perkinsus marinus and Haplosporidia spp. are responsible for major outbreaks of the diseases known as dermo, multinucleate sphere unknown (MSX) and seaside organism (SSO). These diseases are common to the Eastern oyster and have been known to proliferate in Rhode Island waters causing mortalities. Oysters in RI are routinely monitored for these diseases to prevent the movement of pathogens and subsequent outbreaks. However, there is a need for an alternate detection system, one that allows for screening before detrimental effects take hold in the organisms. Environmental DNA (eDNA) screening through water sampling could help provide aquaculturists with information on potential pathogens before outbreak occurs on the farm.
Traditional water sampling methods limit the volume of water, and therefore the DNA, that can be collected from a site. Jaia Robotics provides innovative methods of aquatic data collection using their autonomous vehicles known as JaiaBots. These vehicles have been able to help record data for a multitude of water quality parameters and eDNA collection methods are now being explored as a potential addition to these JaiaBots. This project furthers the developmental process by comparing the water sample collection and filtration used by the JaiaBot with traditional collection and vacuum filtration methods.
JaiaBots equipped with Sylphium eDNA dual filter capsules were deployed among areas with high levels of shellfish pathogens. At the same time of collection, 1L water samples were also collected in triplicate using sterile glass bottles and concentrated onto 0.8µm filters for comparison. DNA extractions were performed using the Sylphium water DNA extraction kit for the JaiaBot samples, and the Qiagen PowerSoil Kit for the 1L water samples. Quantity and quality of the DNA was evaluated, and diagnostic quantitative polymerase chain reaction assays (qPCRs) for Dermo, MSX, SSO were carried out to determine their prevalence in the water column.
Preliminary results show that DNA collected via autonomous methods had higher average concentrations of DNA (865.1 ng/uL) than those collected using traditional methods (478.1 ng/uL). The JaiaBots with Sylphium eDNA capsules filtered 17.75L of water, more than 5 times what was collected by hand. The completion of this research will both determine the current prevalence of shellfish pathogens surrounding major aquaculture sites in Rhode Island, as well as explore a new method of water collection that could alter the way marine research is conducted. Use of these JaiaBots can help researchers collect much larger sample sizes, inform upon potential risks, and allow for the deterrence of disease outbreaks.