Current and emerging diseases of the European lobster (Homarus gammarus): a review

The European lobster, Homarus gammarus (Linnaeus, 1758), supports an important fishery in European waters and is valued at approximately 32.6 pound million yr(-1) to the UK alone. Despite its importance, studies on the pathogens and parasites of this lobster species are relatively lacking compared with studies of other decapods, notably its American counterpart, Homarus americanus H. Milne-Edwards, 1837. Despite the limited scientific literature, the individual parasites and pathogens of H. gammarus documented to date do cover a range of taxa. Here, we discuss the established pathogens: bacterial disease gaffkemia, a parasitic copepod that resides on lobster gills, Nicothoe astaci Audouin and Edwards, 1826, a shell disease syndrome, and the oomycete Haliphthoros milfordensis Vishniac, 1958. Emerging pathogens are also discussed, including white spot syndrome virus, a possible species of Microsporidia, and the devastating epizootic shell disease (ESD), which has deleteriously affected lobster populations along the eastern seaboard of the USA. The review has been spurred by a recent flurry in research into pathogens of H. gammarus after the discovery of ESD-infected H. americanus in European waters. Here, we summarize known information on H. gammarus pathogens and parasites, including their pathology and etiology, followed with a discussion on the potential threat and detriment (past, present and future) of such parasites and diseases to the health of individuals and populations of H. gammarus within European fisheries.