The bacterial ecology of a plague‐like disease affecting the Caribbean coral Montastrea annularis

• DOI: 10.1046/j.1462-2920.2003.00427.x
• Publication Date: 2003-06-17T12:30:11Z
• Authors: Olga Pantos; Rory P. Cooney; Martin D. A. Le T...; Michael R. Barer; Anthony G. O'Donnell; John C. Bythell
• Keywords: DNA, Bacterial; Evolution; 060205 Marine and Estuarine Ecology (incl. Marine Ichthyology); Molecular Sequence Data; 610; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; Microbiology; DNA, Ribosomal; 630; 03 medical and health sciences; Behavior and Systematics; 060504 Microbial Ecology; Animals; Humans; Seawater; 14. Life underwater; Symbiosis; Ecosystem; Phylogeny; 0303 health sciences; Ecology; Bacteria; Anthozoa; 3. Good health; Caribbean Region

Summary The bacterial communities associated with the Caribbean coral Montastrea annularis showing tissue lesions indicative of a White Plague (WP)‐like disease were investigated. Two molecular screening techniques using 16S rDNA genes used and demonstrated distinct differences between diseased non‐diseased tissues, also in relation to proximity on corals. Differences corals apparently healthy tissues remote from lesion affected indicates ‘whole coral’ response relatively small area infection perturbation normal microbial flora occurring prior onset visible signs disease. These whole organism changes may serve as bioindicator environmental stress There striking similarities sequence composition WP‐like studied here that previously reported association black band (BBD) coral. Similarities included presence potential pathogen, an α‐proteobacterium identified causal agent juvenile oyster (JOD). is different WP Type ii because species was not detected, although symptoms two diseases are similar.