RT-qPCR Detection of CsRV1 in Blue Crabs from Delaware Inland Bays and Its Ecological Context Within Local Water Quality Conditions

Blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) populations are of substantial ecological and economic importance. As a keystone species, C. sapidus plays a critical role in maintaining estuarine food webs while also supporting one of the most consumed and economically valuable seafood industries in Delaware and Maryland. This study investigated the presence of Callinectes sapidus reovirus 1 (CsRV1) in C. sapidus collected from Rehoboth Bay, Delaware, USA, using reverse transcription–quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), and evaluated potential associations between viral occurrence and physicochemical parameters, including temperature, salinity, pH, turbidity, alkalinity, calcium hardness, nitrite, and chlorophyll-a. A total of eighteen traps were deployed across six study sites encompassing oyster aquaculture areas, artificial oyster reefs, and control sites with minimal structural habitat. CsRV1 was detected in blue crabs from Rehoboth Bay, confirming the presence of the virus within the Delaware Inland Bays; however, detections were limited to a small subset of sampled individuals. Among the environmental parameters examined, salinity exhibited the greatest interannual variability, while other physicochemical conditions remained relatively consistent across site types and sampling periods. Overall, environmental conditions during the study period were within ranges considered suitable for C. sapidus, indicating that the population is likely to experience limited environmental stress and minimal disease-related impacts under current conditions.