Characterization of chitinolytic bacteria and histological aspects of Shell Disease Syndrome in European spiny lobsters (Palinurus elephas) (Fabricius 1787).
The present research reports the first description of Shell Disease Syndrome in European spiny lobsters Palinurus elephas (Fabricius 1787), which occurred in an experimental aquaculture facility in Sicily (Italy). Both bacterial characterization and histopathological examination of the exoskeleton at site of lesions was carried out. Infected specimens showed tail fan erosions, and in one case uropod ulceration and complete loss of periods. Identified species included: Listonella anguillarum 50.5%, Vibrio parahaemolyticus 27.5% and Vibrio alginolyticus 22%. Microscopic evaluation of lesions indicate the presence of inflammatory responses, which include melanization and pseudomembrane formation, similar to those described for other crustaceans affected by SDS.
Pathology of tail fan necrosis in the spiny lobster, Jasus edwardsii.
Tail fan necrosis (TFN) is the bacterial infection of the tail fan of spiny lobsters which leads to melanosis and erosion of the tail fan tissues. The condition is commonly found among spiny lobsters in aquaculture and commercial fisheries, and greatly reduces their commercial value. This study describes the pathology of TFN by examining the tail fans (telson, uropods) and internal organs (mid-gut, hepatopancreas, heart and gill) of 29 affected wild spiny lobsters (Jasus edwardsii) and 14 unaffected in New Zealand. Initial signs of TFN were observed around the margins of lacerations to the tail fan, with more extensive signs extending from these presumptive sites of initiation. The establishment of the condition at points of injury is consistent with the penetration of TFN through the cuticle and tissue layers of the affected tail fans, which is rarely seen in other forms of shell disease. Entry into these tissues was characterised initially by caseous necrosis and haemocyte accumulation, followed by the spread of these responses together with melanisation. Additional pathological changes to the tail fans included pseudomembrane formation, detachment of epidermis or cuticle, clotted haemolymph and fibrosis. Among internal organs, pathological changes were found in a total of two mid-gut, four heart and two gill samples from eight lobsters with TFN, while no suspected changes were found in the organs of lobsters without TFN. The causes of internal organ pathology associated with TFN in spiny lobsters warrants more detailed research.
An Internet-based Real-time Heavy Rainfall Display System
A new storm warning system, which can be accessed through the Internet and by cellular phones is described. At the time of a heavy rainfall for disaster prevention, it is important that every resident understand how heavy is that rainfall. A real-time heavy rainfall display system designed for all of Japan provides such information (http://www.disaster-i.net/rain/). In that system values for 1-hour precipitation, 24-hour accumulated precipitation, etc. are displayed at every observatory. Advantages are that not only the latest observations but differences from the historical highest records can be seen. Almost all information is displayed by characters so that users have easy access to the system even when the communication network is crowded. Access date for the six months after the system opened shows that the average daily number of accesses of the top page was 306, and the largest number 3078. The maximum number for daily access to all the pages was about 21,500. This is about 2% of the number obtained on the same day for a similar system operated by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (http://www.river.go.jp/).