Hematodinium sp. infection in Norway lobster Nephrops norvegicus and its effects on meat quality

Albalat, A., Gornik, S.G., Beevers, N., Atkinson, R.J.A., Miskin, D. and Neil, D.M. (2012) Hematodinium sp. infection in Norway lobster Nephrops norvegicus and its effects on meat quality. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms, 100(2), pp. 105-112. (doi: 10.3354/dao02500)

Abstract

Hematodinium and Hematodinium-like species have emerged in the last 3 decades as important parasitic pathogens of crustaceans worldwide, causing a significant economic loss to fisheries and related markets. In some species (notably the Tanner crab Chionoecetes bairdi), the parasite reportedly causes the cooked meat to taste bitter and aspirin-like. The bitter taste, together with the gross pathology of the infection, renders these crabs unmarketable. Surprisingly, no organoleptic tests have ever been conducted to date, and the cause for the bitter taste is still unknown. Nevertheless, it is generally assumed that the bitter taste occurs widely in cooked meats and products derived from crustaceans infected with Hematodinium. In the present study, we analysed the meat quality and organoleptic attributes after capture and during storage of Norway lobsters Nephrops norvegicus from Scottish waters that were either asymptomatic or symptomatic of patent Hematodinium infection. Results from the sensory evaluation of the cooked product indicate that tail meat from symptomatic N. norvegicus is bland in flavour and aftertaste, and more friable or sloppier in texture than meat from asymptomatic animals. As a consequence, infected meat tends to be less palatable, although surprisingly no bitter taste is reported. From an analytical point of view, tail meat from patently infected animals is at an advanced stage of auto - lysis, while no difference in microbial load is detected. These results suggest that Norway lobsters heavily infected with Hematodinium are of inferior marketing quality even after the tails have been cooked.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Atkinson, Professor James and Neil, Professor Douglas and Albalat, Dr Amaya and Beevers, Dr Nicholas
• Authors: Albalat, A., Gornik, S.G., Beevers, N., Atkinson, R.J.A., Miskin, D., and Neil, D.M.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Health; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Life Sciences; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
• Journal Name: Diseases of Aquatic Organisms
• Publisher: Inter Research
• ISSN: 0177-5103
• ISSN (Online): 1616-1580
• Published Online: 27 August 2012
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2012 Inter Research
• First Published: First published in Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 100(2):105-112
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher