481 



Doering, Peter Haines. 1976. 



A burrowing response of Meroenaria meroenaria (Linnaeus, 1758) elicited by 

 Asterias forbesi (Desor, 1848). Veliger 19(2): 167-175. 



Meroenaria meroenaria renews burrowing in response to some chemical (s) from 

 Asterias forbesi. This brings Meroenaria to rest at a greater depth, and 

 is presumably a response designed to avoid predation. Squirting out the 

 incurrent siphon can be elicited on siphonal contact with A. forbesi, and 

 Meroenaria is more likely to squirt if chemical stimuli from A. forbesi 

 are present. - J.L.M. 



482 



Doering, Peter H. 1976. 



Mollusks practice self-defense. Maritimes 20(3): 1-3. 



When starfish are present, quahogs bury deeper than in boxes where starfish 

 are absent. In the laboratory it was shown that quahogs reach a deeper 

 final position when they receive chemical stimulation from starfish than 

 when they do not. The active substance which elicits the burrowing response 

 in Meroenaria meroenaria belongs to a class of large steroid-like compounds 

 called saponins. The clam squirts out its incurrent siphon upon siphonal 

 contact with the starfish. It is more likely to squirt in response to 

 mechanical stimulation when the chemical stimulus is also present. Thus the 

 starfish may increase the number of squirts as it moves across a clam flat, 

 thereby recognizing its prey. Clams sometimes remain at escape depths for 

 at least a month when under constant exposure to starfish. - J.L.M. 



483 



Dougherty, Ellsworth C. 1959. 



Introduction to axenic culture of invertebrate Metazoa: A goal. Ann. N.Y. 

 Acad. Sci. 77: 27-54. 



Meroenaria meroenaria is not mentioned. M.W.S. 



484 



Dougherty, William J., and Ronald Altman. 1962. 



Viral hepatitis in New Jersey 1960-1961. Am. J. Med. 32: 704-716. 



Studies of clam-related hepatitis were conducted by interview, and contacts 

 with physicians, restaurants, wholesale and retail clam dealers, and clammers. 

 In the general population consumption of raw clams among non-ill persons over 

 20 yrs old did not exceed 15% and averaged less than 10%. In Jan to Apr 1961, 

 inclusive, 46 to 53% of adult patients with hepatitis had eaten raw clams, 

 most of which were eaten in restaurants. Supplies of clams in wholesale 

 markets in N.Y. and N.J. originated in Mass., R.I., Conn., N.Y., N.J., Md . , 

 Va.,and N.C. Several large shippers in Va . bought clams in the N.Y. market 

 and from Raritan Bay, N.J. These were held in Va. waters until prices were 

 favorable, then shipped back to N.Y. markets. Of 459 patients with infectious 

 hepatitis, 368 or 87% of cases traced came from sources consistent with Raritan 

 Bay origin. Another study was made of patients with infectious hepatitis who 

 had eaten clams from only one N.J. restaurant or market. Of 229 cases traced, 

 205 or 89.5% were from sources consistent with Raritan Bay. In counties bor- 

 dering Raritan Bay incidence of hepatitis was higher than the State average. 

 Such evidence led to closure of Raritan Bay to clamming on 1 May 1961 by 

 authorities in N.Y. and N.J. Following closure, the incidence of hepatitis 

 in adults with a history of clam consumption dropped sharply. From 1959 

 through 1961 the frequency of hepatitis cases per month in N.J. remained 

 below 50 until Nov 1960, then rose rapidly to a peak of over 250 in March 

 1961, and dropped to a level between 100 and 150 in June 1961 and remained 

 there to the end of the year. The winter of 1960-61 was severe and clams 

 were taken from ice-free waters, many of which were contaminated. These 

 studies showed that the source of infection usually could be located if an 

 intensive effort was made. Outbreaks related to shellfish consumption often 

 are not recognized because the product is distributed widely. It is con- 

 ceivable that water could be considered safe by fecal coliform standards, 

 yet still contain hepatitis virus. - J.L.M. 



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