NE Regional Lobster Sample Repository: Data Collection and Initial Findings of the

Lobster Health Coalition

Sponsored by the

with a grant from NOAA

Primary Researchers• Deborah A. Bouchard – UMaine Aquatic Animal Health Lab

• Anne B. Lichtenwalner - UMaine Aquatic Animal Health Lab

• Kathy M. Castro - University of Rhode Island

• Mark D. Fast - Stony Brook University

• Roxanna M. Smolowitz - Roger Williams University

Lobster Health Coalition

• Summer 2009: – Target: 1500 lobsters from Ventless Trap

surveys in 3 general NE regions• Sites:

– Maine – Rhode Island/Massachusetts– Long Island Sound (LIS)

• Numbers: – Maine: 378– RI/MASS: 400– LIS: 154 (VTS animals returned to stock)

Data Collection

Processing Samples

• Logged in:–General

observations–Size–Vigor/mortality–Visible shell

lesions

Data Processing

– Hemolymph • Direct observation for parasites• Culture• Pelleted hemocytes for cDNA

Data Processing

• Archival information:– Region/GIS/Date of collection

• Hemocyte RNA: – High proportion with high sample integrity– Re-precipitating/cleaning

• Histology:– Eyestalk, antennal gland, hepatopancreas,

heart, stomach, muscle, gill, gonad, nerve, intestine, shell (formalin fixed, some sectioned)

• Toxicology– Hepatopancreas (frozen)

Sample Repository

• Total= 932– Maine: 378– LIS: 154– RI/MASS: 400

• Histology prepared/read (R. Smolowitz)– Maine: 35– LIS: 15– RI/MASS: 42

Sample Repository

.

Shell Disease vs Bacteremia

ME LIS RI/MASS0

20

40

60Shell DiseaseBacteremia

Source

% o

f L

ive

Lo

bst

ers

• Gaffkemia: Aerococcus viridans– None detected

• Bumper car disease: 1– Anophryoides haemophilia

Bacteremia

• Vibrio spp.• V. splendidus• V. aestaurianus• V. alginolyticus• V. carcarias• V. fluvialis• V. furnissii• V. metschnikovii• V. proteolyticus• V. vulnificans• V. harveyii

Isolates Identified

•Photobacterium spp.

•P. indicum•P. damsellae ss damsellae

•Other•Pasteurella multocida•Actinomyces•Aeromonas•Listonella anguillarum

• Website development• Grants from

–Atlantic Lobster Sustainability Foundation–Margaret E. Burnham Charitable Trust–Northeast AgEnhancement

• Repository extension

• Expand Lobster Health Coalition

Further Work

Questions welcomed.

Thank you.

The Value of “Value-Added”

Sustaining our Lobstermen