Estimated prevalence of Aerococcus viridans and Anophryoides haemophila in American lobsters Homarus americanus freshly captured in the waters of Prince Edward Island, Canada

• Published in: Diseases of aquatic organisms Vol. 46; no. 3; pp. 231 - 236
• Main Authors: LAVALLEE, Jean, HAMMELL, K. Larry, SPANGLER, Elizabeth S, CAWTHORN, Richard J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oldendorf Inter-Research 08.10.2001
• Subjects: Aerococcus viridans; Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Anophryoides haemophila; Autoecology; Biological and medical sciences; Ciliophora - isolation & purification; Ciliophora - pathogenicity; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Homarus americanus; Male; Marine; Nephropidae - microbiology; Nephropidae - parasitology; Prevalence; Prince Edward Island - epidemiology; Protozoa. Invertebrata; Seasons; Streptococcaceae - isolation & purification; Streptococcaceae - pathogenicity; Canada; Gulf of Saint Lawrence; Prince Edward Island Province; Atlantic Ocean; America; North Atlantic; North America; Prince Edward Island; Canada, Prince Edward Island; ANW, Canada, Prince Edward Island; Aerococcus viridans; Protozoa; Host parasite relation; Protozoal disease; Prevalence; Estimation; Host; Parasitosis; Macrura; Crustacea; Infection; Marine environment; Streptococcaceae; Homarus americanus; Arthropoda; Natural biological resources; Bacteriosis; Bacteria; Micrococcales; Ciliata; Parasitism; Decapoda; Invertebrata
• DOI: 10.3354/dao046231
• ISSN: 0177-5103

The Canadian lobster industry holds lobsters Homarus americanus in captivity for various periods to supply markets with live product year-round. Mortality during holding results in considerable losses, estimated at 10 to 15 % yr(-1) by the industry. This study examined the prevalence of Anophryoides haemophila and Aerococcus viridans, causative agents of 'bumper car' disease and gaffkemia, respectively, in lobsters freshly captured in the waters of Prince Edward Island during the spring and fall fishing seasons of 1997. A total of 116 lobsters were sampled in the spring, and 138 in the fall. A. haemophila was not detected in the spring, while the prevalence was 0.72 % in the fall with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 0.02 to 3.97% and an overall prevalence of 0.39% (95% CI: 0.01 to 2.17%). The prevalence of A. viridans was estimated at 6.9% (95% CI: 3.0 to 13.14%) in the spring, 5.8% in the fall (95% CI: 2.54 to 11.10%), and 6.30% overall (95% CI: 3.64 to 10.03%). Because of the reduced interest in food of diseased lobsters, and compromised metabolism in the case of gaffkemia, these prevalence estimates are likely underestimates of the true prevalence of gaffkemia and 'bumper car' disease in the wild populations of lobster around Prince Edward Island.