Internal organ pathology of wild American lobster (Homarus americanus) from eastern Canada affected with shell disease

Abstract

For the first time in decades, multiple lesions on the exoskeleton of wild caught American lobsters (Homarus americanus) were observed in eastern Canada in 2005 and 2006. These lesions were similar to those observed since the mid 1990s in the eastern United States. Of the 12 lobsters examined, 8 were males. Scanning electron microscopy showed a dense population of rod‐shaped bacteria associated with the breakdown of the first layer of cuticle. However, the ability of bacteria to fully penetrate the carapace is unknown. The shell disease did not seem to be immediately fatal and was often associated with alterations in the histoarchitecture of several internal organs (i.e., testis, vas deferens, hepatopancreas, and gills). For instance, follicle cells responsible for spermatogenesis were damaged, resulting in deformed and non‐viable spermatozoa in the testis and vas deferens. In contrast, the female reproductive organ did not show any abnormalities. R‐cells responsible for the storage of lipids and glycogen in the hepatopancreas were severely damaged or destroyed, indicating stress and starvation. Beside necrosis and calcification of gill filaments, debris between the gill filaments was also observed that would limit ion exchange and cause metabolic exhaustion. It does not seem that shell disease was the causative agent or a vector for the pathological conditions of internal organs, but one of the symptoms of a common agent affecting the internal organs. Although shell disease was observed in several areas in eastern Canada, its prevalence was low, in contrast to the epizootic shell disease observed in Long Island Sound, Rhode Island and southern Massachusetts, United States.

Keywords:

• electronic microscopy
• sperm viability
• gill
• testis
• vas deferens