Morphological and functional characterization of the oyster Crassostrea gasar circulating hemocytes: Cell types and phagocytosis activity

Highlights • The hemolymph of the oyster Crassostrea gasar is composed of six types of hemocytes.• Large and small granulocytes and hyalinocytes and blast-like cells were described.• A rare type was described with features suggesting a degradative function.• Three types of particles: latex, zymosan and E. coli were phagocytosed by hemocytes.• Zymosan was the most engulfed particle, followed by beads, and E. coli.• Granulocytes were the most phagocytic cells.