Classification of Homarus americanus hemocytes and the use of differential hemocyte counts in lobsters infected with Aerococcus viridans var. homari (Gaffkemia)

• Published in: Journal of invertebrate pathology Vol. 84; no. 3; pp. 177 - 197
• Main Authors: Battison, Andrea, Cawthorn, Richard, Horney, Barbara
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Inc 01.11.2003; Elsevier
• Subjects: Aerococcus viridans; Aerococcus viridans homari; Aerococcus viridans var. homari; Animal Diseases - pathology; Animal Diseases - physiopathology; Animals; bacterial infections; Biological and medical sciences; classification; Crustacea; Differential hemocyte count; disease course; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gaffkemia; hematologic tests; hemocyte morphology; Hemocytes; Hemocytes - classification; Hemocytes - cytology; Hemolymph - cytology; Homarus americanus; infection; Inflammation; Invertebrates; lobsters; Marine; Nephropidae - microbiology; Nephropidae - physiology; Pathology; shellfish diseases; Specimen Handling; Streptococcaceae - physiology; ultrastructure; Homarus americanus; Aerococcus viridans var. homari; Inflammation; Differential hemocyte count; Gaffkemia; Hemocytes; Aerococcus viridans; Macrura; Crustacea; Infection; Streptococcaceae; Edible crustacean; Hemocyte; Gram positive bacteria; Arthropoda; Classification; Bacteria; Micrococcales; Decapoda; Invertebrata
• ISSN: 0022-2011; 1096-0805
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2003.11.005

Hemocytes of the American lobster ( Homarus americanus H. Milne Edwards) were classified after examination of Wright–Giemsa stained cytocentrifuge preparations by brightfield light microscopy. Eleven hemocyte types were identified using morphologic criteria. The classification system was then used to monitor changes in the differential hemocyte count (DHC) of lobsters infected with the Gram positive coccus Aerococcus viridans var. homari, etiologic agent of gaffkemia. The appearance of less mature hemocytes in the DHCs of lobsters in the late stages of infection was similar to the ‘left shift’ of vertebrate inflammation. Results from this study suggest that DHCs can be used to assess and characterize inflammation in H. americanus and possibly other crustaceans.