Contact: Spencer Greenwood AVCLSC
Start date: January 2003
Completion date: Fall 2008

Gaffkemia (or ‘Red tail’ disease) is the name given to the disease caused by the bacterium, Aerococcus viridans var. homari in American lobster. We have used a combination of molecular biology and proteomic approaches to aid in our understanding of how the bacterium actually causes disease in lobsters. By determining the relatedness of isolates of Aerococcus collected over time (1947 to 2001) from different geographic locations, we were able to determine that most of the isolates causing disease outbreaks are closely related. These methods can be further developed to be incorporated into sensitive and specific surveillance or monitoring programs. Using proteomics, we have identified a number of proteins that may be  involved in the pathogenesis of disease. We hope that by understanding how the bacterium causes disease, that we are better able to develop mitigation strategies in lobster holding facilities.

Publications/Abstracts

Greenwood SJ, Keith IR, Després BM, Cawthorn RJ.
Genetic characterization of the lobster pathogen Aerococcus viridans var. homari by 16S rRNA gene sequence and RAPD.
Dis Aquat Organ. 2005 Feb 28;63(2-3):237-46.