Coral Disease on the Great Barrier Reef

Identification of a Ciliate (Oligohymenophorea: Scuticociliatia) Associated with Brown Band Disease on Corals of the Great Barrier Reef

“…For example, the consumption of coral tissue by the ciliate Helicostoma nonatum produces brown jelly-like symptoms in infected aquarium corals (7). Willis et al (42) speculated that the ciliate associated with BrB might be related to H. nonatum, although results from this study suggest that it belongs to a different family. Other studies have identified a protozoan belonging to the phylum Apicomplexa within microbial communities associated with the coral Montastraea annularis in the Caribbean, but although this protozoan is related to a group of highly parasitic organisms, whether or not it is parasitic on corals is currently unknown (37).…”

“…Seven coral diseases on the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) have been described previously (42), although their causative agents remain largely undescribed. One disease, named brown band (BrB), was described for the first time in studies of corals in three families (Acroporidae, Pocilloporidae, and Faviidae) in the northern and southern sectors of the GBR (42).…”

“…One disease, named brown band (BrB), was described for the first time in studies of corals in three families (Acroporidae, Pocilloporidae, and Faviidae) in the northern and southern sectors of the GBR (42). Macroscopic symptoms of the disease manifest as a brown zone, which is preceded by healthy tissue and followed by exposed white skeleton as it progresses across the coral (see Fig.…”

Flow cytometric analysis of virus-like particles and heterotrophic bacteria within coral-associated reef water

“…Healthy corals exhibited strong pigment and were devoid of obvious abrasions. White syndrome disease was easily identi¢ed and characterized by coral colonies exhibiting distinct separation between the healthy coral tissue and white exposed skeleton (Willis et al, 2004). Dead corals were identi¢ed as coral skeletons devoid of tissue and colonized by thin ( 2 mm) algal turf mats.…”

Dynamics of seasonal outbreaks of black band disease in an assemblage of Montipora species at Pelorus Island (Great Barrier Reef, Australia)

“…Low levels of BBD prevalence (0.0-0.7%) were reported throughout the GBR reef system in the summer of 2004 ( Page & Willis 2006). Records of BBD abundance in yearly surveys on 48 reefs spanning the GBR between 1998 and 2004 also suggest that the disease typically remains at low background levels ( Willis et al 2004) and there have been no reports of destructive epizootics similar to those in the Caribbean. Although some investigations have been multi-year and multiseasonal, most estimates of BBD prevalence have been based on 'snapshot' observations or infrequent surveys.…”