Incidence of Gaffkya homari in Natural Lobster (Homarus americanus) Populations of the Atlantic Region of Canada

Abstract

Hemolymph samples drawn from 2035 lobsters captured in five areas off the Canadian Atlantic coast were individually tested for the bacterium Gaffkya homari, using a qualitative, presumptive test, followed by a confirmatory procedure. Ninety-six lobsters, or almost 5% of the total, were confirmed as being infected. The approximate range of G. homari incidence was from 2 to 40% indicating that G. homari is resident in the natural lobster population of this region. Evidence suggested that a high natural incidence can lead to an epizootic among stored, captive lobsters. The possibility that an infection source exists in addition to the G. homari strains resident in the lobster population is discussed.