Chemotactic activity of hemocytes derived from a brackish-water clam, Corbicula japonica, to Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Escherichia coli strains.

Hemocytes from adult and juvenile specimens of a brackish-water clam, Corbicula japonica, were attracted chemotactically to live cells of Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Escherichia coli strains in a balanced salt solution, which was enhanced significantly in the presence of respective C. japonica plasma. Chemotactic attractions of adult's and juvenile's hemocytes were seen also in artificial seawater at a similar level to those in the balanced salt solution. Chemotactic attractions of juvenile's hemocytes to these strains were lower in level than those of adult's hemocytes. C. japonica plasma seems to facilitate for C. japonica hemocytes to recognize these organisms.