A white shrimp from Galveston, Texas, is the first reported case of a crustacean internally infected by a diatom. Even though more than one species occurred in debris on and between gill filaments, only individuals of Amphora sp. occurred within gills. To determine if a related diatom would easily reproduce within the shrimp and cause. a hostresponse similar to that observed, we injected cultured specimens of A. coffaeformis into white shrimp. Under the experimental conditions, individuals of that species did not divide, but they elicited an extensive melanistic host-response. Gills of a single specimen of the white shrimp Penaeus setiferus from Galveston, Texas, harbored numerous melanistic regions. This particular specimen, the first crustacean reported to be infected in the hemocoel with algae, had been collected from the natural environment and maintained along with others during a project dealing with shrimp maturation. Soon after death, it was fixed in Carnoy’s I1 solution and sent to us for identification of the agent or agents eliciting the melanistic response. Jorge Leong, who forwarded the specimen, noted no similarly affected shrimp at his laboratory at that time. Gross examination of a stained preparation (Van Cleave’s hematoxylin) of a few gills revealed clusters of diatoms associated with deposits of presumed melanin. These clusters consisted of Amphora sp. On the other hand, individuals of Amphora sp., Nitzschia spp., and Achanthes spp. (including A. exigua) occurred in debris on and between filaments. Additionally, an apostomatid ciliate occurred within a few filaments. Sectioned material showed several sites, primarily in the tips of filaments, where hemocytes had apparently encircled diatoms. In the voluminous hemolymph-filled space of the afferent channel of one gill adjacent to its lamellar junctions, Amphora sp. occurred in large clusters. Stained internal structures within the diatoms suggest that most were alive at the time of fixation. Apparently Amphora sp. grew and reproduced within the shrimp, since individual organisms in the afferent channel ranged from small to large and exhibited a variety of shapes. A heterogeneous debris-like substance surrounded most of the internal clusters of diatoms, possibly resulting from their metabolic wastes. The substance contrasted with the lightly stained hemolymph by staining red and violet with Taylor’s technique for bacteria and blue and violet with the Ziehl-Neelsen method for bacteria (Luna 1968). In contrast to that in most shrimp, the hemolymph in this particular shrimp had a fibrinous consistency. Manuscript received May 12, 1980; accepted July 2, 1980. In an effort to determine if diatoms easily reproduce in the white shrimp, we injected saline with cultured Amphora coffaeformis into either the hemocoel or abdominal musculature of 50 shrimp. We used A. coffaeformis since it closely resembled the unidentified species present in the shrimp from Texas. Within an hour, most injected diatoms concentrated in the gill region. By 24-hour postinoculum (PI), we detected melanization as yellowish-brown foci. These regions acquired a dark color by day 2. By day 4 they became more numerous, larger, and darker. Seldom did more than a few individual diatoms occur together, suggesting their failure to reproduce. Nevertheless, the inoculated shrimp died sooner than saline-injected counterparts used as controls. When only a few individual diatoms were introduced into shrimp in a follow-up experiment, no aggregaiions became apparent after 7, 14, or 21 days PI. We conclude that the single infected shrimp from Texas probably represents an abnormal or accidental case. Possibly, recently eaten diatoms passed or were forced through a damaged or filled alimentary tract. In any event, the host apparently encapsulated diatoms at a slower rate than some individuals could multiply. In the experimental shrimp a factor such as the strain of diatom, health or resistance of shrimp, or other influence may have inhibited reproduction of the diatom. Once certain diatom species gain entrance into a crustacean’s hemocoel, hemolymph might provide a good culture medium. Amphora spp. are known to be remarkably versatile in their requirements for growth. Cooksey and Chansang (1 976) reported different requirements for three different heterotrophic cultures of Amphora spp. Moreover, some species withstand harsh environments. Amphora coffaeformis adjusts by establishing resting cells which can rapidly reestablish to the logarithmic stage given favorable conditions (Anderson 1975). Melanization and the cellular inflammatory response in penaeids and other arthropods have already been documented. Lightner and Redman (1977) reported that a variety of pathological conditions, organisms, heavy metals, and