Department of Veterinary Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Visayas State University, Visca, Baybay City, Leyte, 6521, Philippines
Corresponding author
philip.lumain@vsu.edu.ph
The current work is the first effort to quantify cell viability and profiling of cell morphotypes found in the coelomic fluid of the Crown-of-Thorns starfish (COTS) (Acanthaster planci L.), collected in the territorial waters of Southern Leyte, Philippines. For the cell viability, based on the trypan blue exclusion test on the varying time interval for counting, at fresh preparation (0 minutes), the counted live cells are 137 (mean: 34.25 ± 6.45) with coelomocyte viability of 6.8 ± 10.26 x 105 cells ml; as the time increases, the viable cells from the prepared fractions decrease. This study reveals that the coelomic fluid of COTS contains diverse coelomocyte morphotypes, including spherule, vibratile, fusiform, crystal, progenitor, and phagocyte cells, all of which have distinct cellular sizes and morphologies. These cell types are also present during physiological changes in COTS. These findings offer valuable insights into the physiology and cellular component of COTS, potentially serving as a foundation in developing control strategies, including the discovery of novel and effective compounds to prevent or eradicate outbreaks. Based on the results of this study, the authors point to the need for in-depth systematic profiling and characterization of the COTS coelomocytes using more advanced microscopical techniques (i.e., fluorescence and transmission electron microscopy); percentage determination of each coelomocyte per ml of coelomic fractions depending on the COTS maturity, sex, and status – healthy, stressed, injured, or during spawning seasons; cell viability per coelomocyte type, the impact of seasonal variation to the coelomocytes; and comparison of the coelomocytes of other endemic Asteroid echinoderms.