Multiple mechanisms of transmission of the Caribbean coral disease white plague

Abstract

White plague is one of the most devastating coral diseases in the Caribbean, and yet important aspects of its epidemiology, including how the disease transmits, remain unknown. This study tested potential mechanisms and rates of transmission of white plague in a laboratory setting. Transmission mechanisms including the transport of water, contact with macroalgae, and predation via corallivorous worms and snails were tested on the host species Orbicella annularis. Two of the tested mechanisms were shown to transmit disease: water transport and the corallivorous snail Coralliophila abbreviata. Between these transmission mechanisms, transport of water between a diseased coral and a healthy coral resulted in disease incidence significantly more frequently in exposed healthy corals. Transmission via water transport also occurred more quickly and was associated with higher rates of tissue loss (up to 3.5 cm d -1 ) than with the corallivorous snail treatment. In addition, water that was in contact with diseased corals but was filtered with a 0.22-lm filter prior to being introduced to apparently healthy corals also resulted in the transmission of disease signs, but at a much lower rate than when water was not filtered. This study has provided important information on the transmission potential of Caribbean white plague disease and highlights the need for a greater understanding of how these processes operate in the natural environment.

3D Photogrammetry Reveals Dynamics of Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD) Lesion Progression Across a Thermal Stress Event

“…This disease is a threat to Caribbean reefs not only because of how quickly it spreads, but because of how rapidly it kills corals. The tissue loss rates of SCTLD are unprecedented, causing loss of tissue up to 35-fold higher than other diseases such as white plague (0.8 ± 0.2 cm 2 /day, Clemens and Brandt, 2015), black band (0.52 cm/day, Sato et al, 2011), or white syndrome (2.28 ± 0.21 cm/day, Pollock et al, 2013). In addition to SCTLD lesions progressing faster than other diseases, many affected colonies experienced 100% mortality.…”

“…Early studies of coral disease often used linear measurements between the tissue edge and a stationary point on the coral to quantify tissue loss rates in situ resulting in a linear measurement. With the advent of digital underwater cameras, two-dimensional photo analysis became a standard method applied for both linear (Sato et al, 2011) and areal tissue loss rates (Clemens and Brandt, 2015). These photographs not only allowed for records of tissue loss rates that could be revisited but decreased the in-water time necessary for other methods such as measuring the lesions in situ.…”

Parasites and coral‐associated invertebrates that impact coral health

“…1994), susceptibility to disease (Nicolet et al . 2013; Clemens & Brandt 2015) and postbleaching survivorship (Shaver et al . 2018).…”

“…(1994) inflicted minor artificial injuries of 1cm 2 on Orbicella annularis (Ellis & Solander 1786), mimicking the damage caused by gastropod feeding, and observed a 32% reduction in growth over 56 days (Meesters et al 1994). Drupella and Coralliophila may act as disease vectors, with Clemens and Brandt (2015) finding that Coralliophila erosa (Röding, 1798) transmitted the Caribbean coral disease, white plague, between Orbicella annularis specimens. Nicolet et al .…”

“…There is insufficient evidence to draw a causal relationship between feeding and tissue sloughing, but it is possible that Phestilla spp. may serve as a disease vector similarly to the interaction observed with C. erosa and white plague (Dalton & Godwin 2006; Clemens & Brandt 2015). Phestilla spp.…”