Microbial Pests–Coral Disease in the Western Atlantic

Proc. 8th Int. Coral Reef Symp. 1:607-612.  1997

D.L. Santavy and E.C. Peters
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Gulf Ecology Division, 1 Sabine Dr., Gulf Breeze, Florida 32561, U.S.A
Tetra Tech., Inc. 10306 Eaton Place, Suite 340, Fairfax, Virginia 22030, U.S.A

ABSTRACT

Diseases of sceleractinian corals have increased significantly over the last decade, affecting greater number of species around the world. Gross signs of coral disease are often observed in tissue loss on the skeleton, making differential diagnosis difficult. Using the histopathological and infrastructural techniques, coupled with microbiological analyses, the importance of microorganisms as pathogens in coral diseases is becoming more apparent.

This paper addresses the ecology of pathogens on reefs, specifically bacreria and cynobacteria that produce disease in scleractinian and acyonarian corals.

We review the nature of the disease and the influence of adverse environmental conditions. An update is presented on research concerning the bacteria associated with black- and white- band diseases; observations are presented concerning other coral diseases in the western Atlantic that appear to be caused by bacteria. We conclude with suggestions for improving the recognition that include research to identify bacterial pathogens and the role of environmental factors in the development of coral disease.