May 16, 2007

White spot disease hits crawfish farm in Louisiana

White spot disease has been confirmed in a commercial crawfish pond St Martin Parish in Louisiana, sparking fears that the disease could spread statewide.

The disease poses no known risk to humans but can wipe out crustaceans like crawfish. 

State Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry Bob Odom said a commercial pond in Arnaudville was quarantined in late April when white spot disease was suspected there.

The confirmation marked the first occurrence of its kind in the state's crawfish crop. Ponds nearby are now being tested for the disease.

The state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is asking commercial fishermen to report any infected crawfish.

White spot disease, named for the abnormal calcium deposits on the shells of infected crustaceans, was first reported in commercial shrimp farms in Asia in the early 1990s.