}

Lobster does not love the sick

2006/10/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

Lobster does not love the sick
10/01/2006 | Elhuyar
(Photo: NOAA)

The Caribbean lobster (Panulirus argus) seems to be able to distinguish sick members. In fact, it rejects the sick lobsters and the female does not allow it to cover a sick male, as seen at Old Dominion University.

Shrimps generally tend to concentrate. But the researchers found that there are also lone lobsters. All these lone locusts had white blood under the tail: they were sick, they had the virus Panulirus argus 1 (PaV1).

In view of this, the tests began: they took several locusts, some were inserted PaV1 and analyzed the relationship between all. During the first four weeks (when the disease was not yet revealed), 70% of healthy lobsters discarded the patients and by the sixth week all patients were excluded.

Lobster is therefore able to discriminate against the patient before the most obvious symptoms appear; they still do not know what sense they use for it, which can be smell.

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