Effects of intrinsic and extrinsic factors on the haemocyte profile of the spiny lobster, Panulirus homarus (Linnaeus, 1758) under controlled conditions

The effect of intrinsic and extrinsic factors like disease, nutritional status, bilateral eyestalk ablation and different water exchange regimes on the total haemocyte count (THC) of the spiny lobster, Panulirus homarus was studied. The THC count reduced by 31.30, 50.34 and 72.01% in the lobsters infected by shell disease with 5-10, 10-20 and > 20% shell lesion cover respectively. The control healthy lobsters with 0% lesion showed the highest THC (20.07 plus or minus O.99x 10 super(6) cells ml super(-1)) and the lowest was observed in the group displaying> 20% shell lesion cover (5.59 plus or minus 0.49 x 10 super(6) cells ml super(-1)). The serum protein reduced by 16.19, 33.27 and 55.06% respectively in the groups displaying 5-10, 10-20 and > 20% lesion cover. Clotting time showed a significant (p