http://worldcat.org/entity/work/id/40010747

Trends in prevalence of bitter crab disease (Hematodinium spp.) in snow crab, Chionoecetes opilio, at Newfoundland and Labrador

Infection of crabs of the genus Chionoecetes by parasitic dinoflagellates of the genus Hematodinium has been termed bitter crab disease because meats from heavily parasitized crabs are bitter-tasting and unmarketable. This report describes the spatial distribution and prevalence of bitter crab disease in snow crab throughout the range of snow crab distribution along the north-east Newfoundland and southern Labrador continental shelf. Annual changes in spatial distribution of the disease are described based on 1996-2000 fall bottom-trawl surveys. Further details on effects of year, density, and host sex & body size are provided. The possible effects of this disease on natural mortality levels and recruitment are also considered.

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