Health management in lobster aquaculture

Abstract

This chapter discusses different diseases and pathogens that lobsters are susceptible to, in the wild and in rearing systems. Although reports of disease outbreaks in lobsters are scarce, there are several known organisms that cause pathogenicity in lobsters, particularly under stressful conditions. Lobsters held in captive conditions are more prone to attack by pathogens and parasites, with known susceptibility in the larval phase. Among the known diseases in lobsters are viral diseases like Panulirus argus virus 1 (PaV1) and White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV), bacterial diseases like Gaffkaemia, shell disease, Vibriosis, red-body disease, tail necrosis and Milky White Disease Syndrome and fungal infections like Oomycetes, Burnspot disease and Lagenidium disease. Also described in this chapter are dinoflagellate blood disease, paramoebiasis, infections caused by microsporidians and several other invertebrate parasites like copepods. Egg-bearing lobsters are also prone to predation by Carcinonemertean worms which feed on the eggs. Epibiont fouling and ciliate diseases are also a major concern in lobster holding systems. This chapter highlights some of the remedial and prophylactic measures to prevent lobster diseases and infestation that are commonly reported in holding systems.