Luminous vibriosis in rock lobster Jasus verreauxi (Decapoda: Palinuridae) phyllosoma larvae associated with infection by Vibrio harveyi

[摘要] ABSTRACT: Studies were conducted to determine the cause of outbreaks of luminous vibriosis in phyllosoma larvae of the packhorse rock lobster Jasus verreauxi reared in an experimental culture facility. On 2 separate occasions mortalities of up to75% over a period of 4 wk were observed in 4th to 5th and 8th to 10th instar phyllosomas at water temperatures of 20 and 23°C, respectively. Affected larvae became opaque, exhibited small red spots throughout the body and pereiopods, and were faintlyluminous when viewed in the dark. Histopathology showed that the gut and hepatopancreas tubules of moribund phyllosomas contained massive bacterial plaques. The hepatopancreas tubules of moribund larvae were atrophic and some contained necrotic cellssloughed into the lumen. Dense, pure cultures of a bacterium identified as Vibrio harveyi were isolated from moribund larvae. The disease syndrome was reproduced by in vivo challenge and V. harveyi was successfully reisolated fromdiseased larvae after apparently healthy larvae were exposed by immersion to baths of more than 10⁴ V. harveyi ml^-1 at 24°C. Injured larvae were more susceptible to infection than were healthy larvae. Survival of larvaeexperimentally and naturally exposed to V. harveyi was improved when antibiotics were administered via bath exposures.

[学科分类] 生物科学（综合）

[关键词] Spiny lobsters;Crustacea;Mariculture;Disease;Vibrio;New Zealand