Parasitic Copepods on Lobsters
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Category
Category 3 (Host Not in Canada)
Common, generally accepted names of the organism or disease agent
Parasitic copepods on lobsters.
Scientific name or taxonomic affiliation
Nicothoë astaci.
Geographic distribution
Orkney Islands, Scotland.
Host species
Homarus gammarus (=vulgaris).
Impact on the host
This choniostomatid copepod attaches to a gill filament by means of its suctoral mouth, pierces the wall of the filament with sharp styliform mandibles and feeds on the haemolymph. It often occurs in groups near the base of the gills. At each moult of the host, attached copepods are shed with the old shell and die, but re-infestation by last-stage copepodids can occur in significant numbers shortly after the moult, before the gills become hard again.
Diagnostic techniques
Gross Observations
Parasitic copepods permanently attached to base of gills. Adult female (1.2-1.7mm body length) with two large lateral expansions or wings (up to 4mm long) on thorax and two oval egg sacs (up to 3 mm long) attached to abdomen. Juveniles of a similar appearance, but without egg sacs and smaller in size. Males not found on the lobster.
Methods of control
No known methods of prevention or control.
References
Mason, J. 1959. The biology of Nicothoë astaci Audouin and Milne Edwards. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 38: 3-16.
Citation Information
Bower, S.M. (1996): Synopsis of Infectious Diseases and Parasites of Commercially Exploited Shellfish: Parasitic Copepods on Lobsters.
Date last revised: Fall 1996
Comments to Susan Bower
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