Acanthocephalan Larvae in Lobsters
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Category
Category 4 (Negligible Regulatory Significance in Canada)
Common, generally accepted names of the organism or disease agent
Acanthocephalan larvae in lobsters, cystacanth infection.
Scientific name or taxonomic affiliation
Polymorphus (=Corynosoma) (=Profilicollis) botulus.
Geographic distribution
Eastern Canada and adjacent coast of New England.
Host species
Homarus americanus, also reported from Carcinus maenas in Scotland.
Impact on the host
The life cycle of P. botulus normally occurs between sea ducks (eg., eiders and scoters) and crabs. Thus, infections in commercial-sized lobsters were probably acquired from crabs that form an important dietary item of lobsters. The lobster probably represents a dead end host for the parasite. Cystacanths usually occur in lobsters collected adjacent to the coast.
Diagnostic techniques
Squash Preparations
Cystacanths were embedded in or perforated the intestine wall and occasionally occurred in the haemocoel and hepatopancreas.
Methods of control
No known methods of prevention or control.
References
Brattey, J. and A. Campbell. 1986. A survey of parasites of the American lobster, Homarus americanus (Crustacea: Decapoda), from the Canadian Maritimes. Canadian Journal of Zoology 64: 1998-2003.
Uzmann, J.R. 1970. Use of parasites in identifying lobster stocks. The Journal of Parasitology 56: 349. (abstract).
Citation Information
Bower, S.M. (1996): Synopsis of Infectious Diseases and Parasites of Commercially Exploited Shellfish: Acanthocephalan Larvae in Lobsters.
Date last revised: September 1996
Comments to Susan Bower
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