DAO 61:263-268 (2004) - doi:10.3354/dao061263
Response of American lobsters Homarus americanus to infection with a field isolate of Aerococcus viridans var. homari (gaffkemia): survival and haematology
A. L. Battison1,3,*, R. J. Cawthorn2, B. Horney1
ABSTRACT: American lobsters Homarus americanus were inoculated with a field isolate of the Gram-positive bacterium Aerococcus viridans var. homari, causative agent of gaffkemia, at 1 × 106, 1 × 104 or 1 × 102 colony forming units (CFU) kg–1 or with sterile 3% NaCl and maintained at 10 or 15°C until they died or were euthanised. Progression of disease in individual animals was monitored daily by total haemocyte count (THC) and haemolymph culture. Post-mortem examinations were performed on all lobsters. Effects of both ambient temperature and infective dose on survival time were observed. Marked bacteraemia occurred in all mortalities. Haemocytopenia (THC < 10 × 109 cells l–1) preceded death in most, but not all, mortalities.
KEY WORDS: Lobster · Homarus americanus · Gaffkemia · Aerococcus viridans var. homari
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