Bacteria induced shell disease of lobsters (Homarus americanus)

Chitin degrading species of bacteria in the genera Pseudomonas, Vibrio, and Beneckea were cultured from the lesions of lobsters (Homarus americanus) with a shell disease. A species of bacterium of the genus Vibrio (Beneckea) produced necrosis characteristics of shell disease in experimental lobsters when the integument had been damaged prior to inoculation.