Microbial diseases of cultured lobsters: A review

Fisher, William S.; Nilson, E.H.; Steenbergen, James F.; Lightner, Donald V.

doi:10.1016/0044-8486(78)90025-x

Cited by 85 publications

(58 citation statements)

References 38 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Reviews of in-depth studies on gaffkemia, the overwhelming systemic infection of lobsters caused by the free-living, gram positive, tetrad-forming coccus, Aerococcus viridans (var.) homari (previously Gaffkya homari), include those by Stewart & Rabin (1970), Fisher et al (1978), Sparks (1981), Stewart (1984Stewart ( , 1993, Sindermann & Lightner (1988), and Sindermann (1990) among others.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Studies on the virulence of Aerococcus viridans (var.) homari, the causative agent of gaffkemia, a fatal disease of homarid lobsters

Stewart

Cornick²,

Zwicker³

et al. 2004

Dis. Aquat. Org.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Virulent and avirulent strains of Aerococcus viridans (var.) homari were used to extend previous studies to determine and confirm differences between the 2 types. Virulent strains possessed polysaccharide capsules and were not agglutinated by lobster hemolymph serum; avirulent strains did not have capsules, were agglutinated by the lobster hemolymph serum, and most did not grow well in lobster hemolymph serum. Growth of the avirulent strains in sterile lobster hemolymph serum induced the production of capsules (which reached a maximum after 5 to 7 d incubation), eliminated susceptibility of the strains to the lobster serum agglutinin, and restored their virulence against lobsters. The factor(s) in lobster hemolymph serum inducing the long-lasting phenotypic response of virulence was (were) heat labile. KEY WORDS: Lobster · Homarus americanus · Virulence · Aerococcus viridans (var.) homari · Capsules · Agglutinin Resale or republication not permitted without written consent of the publisherDis Aquat Org 60: [149][150][151][152][153][154][155] 2004 nated by the lobster serum agglutinins, while avirulent strains were. Additionally, 24 h growth trials showed that virulent strains formed substantial capsules when grown in lobster hemolymph serum, while under the same time and conditions avirulent strains produced only trace amounts of capsular materials.In this paper we report extensions of these investigations conducted to determine the degrees of variation in virulence among different strains of Aerococcus viridans (var.) homari, the coincidence of capsular materials with virulence, the stability of virulence and its restoration. MATERIALS AND METHODSLobsters. Freshly captured lobsters of both sexes (weighing between 450 and 500 g) were obtained directly from fishermen in Eastern Passage and Digby, Nova Scotia. The chelae were immobilized with heavy rubber bands and the lobsters were held in tanks supplied with running, filtered seawater at ambient temperatures ranging from 1 to 12°C, depending upon season. All experimental work was carried out in tanks of re-circulating, filtered seawater at 15 ± 0.5°C after the lobsters had been acclimated to this temperature for ca. 2 wk; the lobsters were not fed during the actual challenge trials. Individual shelters were provided in tanks to protect the lobsters during holding periods and experimental work. Prior to the initiation of experiments, all lobsters involved were examined by culture methods and hemolymph smears to ensure that they were not infected with Aerococcus viridans (var.) homari.Strains of Aerococcus viridans (var.) homari. Strains were isolated during various surveys and identified as described by Stewart et al. (1966), or purchased from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC 10400); 1 strain of proven virulence, which we have used for reference purposes throughout much of the work on this disease, was donated by Dr. H. Rabin (hereafter referred to as Rabin's strain; Cornick & Stewart 1968). The virulence of Rabin's strain was maintained b...

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Studies on the virulence of Aerococcus viridans (var.) homari, the causative agent of gaffkemia, a fatal disease of homarid lobsters

Stewart

Cornick²,

Zwicker³

et al. 2004

Dis. Aquat. Org.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The disease seems particularly prevalent in areas of degraded habitat. High levels of infection have been found in crustaceans from the heavily polluted waters of the New York Bight, USA (Gopalan & Young 1975, Young & Pearce 1975, as well as in the elevated population densities of aquaculture systems (Fisher et al 1978, Sindermann 1984.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Epidemiology and dynamics of shell disease in the edible crab Cancer pagurus:a preliminary study of Langland Bay, Swansea, UK

Vogan¹,

Llewellyn²,

Rowley³

1999

Dis. Aquat. Org.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The prevalence and severity of shell disease in the edible crab Cancer pagurus (L.) was investigated in animals collected from Langland Bay, Gower, South Wales, UK, at monthly intervals from 1997 to 1998. Shell disease is the progressive degradation of exoskeletal chitin accompanied by melanisation of the affected region. Over 50% of the crabs sampled had 1 or more black-spot lesions. The proportion of exoskeleton affected increased with the size of the crab. Male crabs showed significantly higher levels of the disease than females, a higher prevalence of black-spot lesions (63% in males, 40% in females) and a higher mean percentage of body covered by lesions (1 % in males, 0.2% in females). This difference between the sexes corresponded to an increase in ventral surface and chela infection in males. For both sexes, the dorsal carapace was the area most affected by the disease. Dorsal carapace regional breakdown revealed the areas most commonly affected were located to the posterior of the crab. Lesion location patterns suggested that sand abrasion injuries during back-burrowing behaviour of C. pagurus lead to the formation of shell disease lesions. Seasonal trends in shell disease were seen to be dependent on the onshore migration patterns of the different size classes and sexes over the sampling period.

show abstract

“…It is characterised by an erosion of the cuticle surface (Fisher et al 1978;Malloy 1978;Stewart 1980;Getchell 1989;Young 1991;Smolowitz et al 1992Smolowitz et al , 2002 and progressive chitinolysis and necrosis of the exoskeleton (Rosen 1970;Getchell 1989;Sindermann 1989). Histo-pathologic symptoms of shell diseases are necrotic lesions with bacteria first penetrating and breaking down the first layer of the exoskeleton (epicuticle), followed by necrosis of underlying tissue.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Internal organ pathology of wild American lobster (Homarus americanus) from eastern Canada affected with shell disease

Comeau

Benhalima

2009

New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

For the first time in decades, multiple lesions on the exoskeleton of wild caught American lobsters (Homarus americanus) were observed in eastern Canada in 2005 and 2006. These lesions were similar to those observed since the mid 1990s in the eastern United States. Of the 12 lobsters examined, 8 were males. Scanning electron microscopy showed a dense population of rod-shaped bacteria associated with the breakdown of the first layer of cuticle. However, the ability of bacteria to fully penetrate the carapace is unknown. The shell disease did not seem to be immediately fatal and was often associated with alterations in the histoarchitecture of several internal organs (i.e., testis, vas deferens, hepatopancreas, and gills). For instance, follicle cells responsible for spermatogenesis were damaged, resulting in deformed and non-viable spermatozoa in the testis and vas deferens. In contrast, the female reproductive organ did not show any abnormalities. R-cells responsible for the storage of lipids and glycogen in the hepatopancreas were severely damaged or destroyed, indicating stress and starvation. Beside necrosis and calcification of gill filaments, debris between the gill filaments was also observed that would limit ion exchange and cause metabolic exhaustion. It does not seem that shell disease was the causative agent or a vector for the pathological conditions of internal organs, but one of the symptoms of a common agent affecting the internal organs. Although shell disease was observed in several areas in eastern Canada, its prevalence M07111;

show abstract

Microbial diseases of cultured lobsters: A review

Cited by 85 publications

References 38 publications

Studies on the virulence of Aerococcus viridans (var.) homari, the causative agent of gaffkemia, a fatal disease of homarid lobsters

Studies on the virulence of Aerococcus viridans (var.) homari, the causative agent of gaffkemia, a fatal disease of homarid lobsters

Epidemiology and dynamics of shell disease in the edible crab Cancer pagurus:a preliminary study of Langland Bay, Swansea, UK

Internal organ pathology of wild American lobster (Homarus americanus) from eastern Canada affected with shell disease

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About