Identification of a bacterial pathogen associated with Porites white patch syndrome in the Western Indian Ocean

Identification of a bacterial pathogen associated with Porites white patch syndrome in the Western Indian Ocean Séré M. G. auteur aut IRD Tortosa P. auteur aut IRD Chabanet Pascale auteur aut IRD Quod J. P. auteur aut IRD Sweet M. J. auteur aut IRD Schleyer M. H. auteur aut IRD text journalArticle eng text/pdf born digital access Porites white patch syndrome (PWPS) is a coral disease recently described in the Western Indian Ocean. This study aimed to isolate and identify potential pathogens associated with PWPS utilizing both culture and nonculture screening techniques and inoculation trials. A total of 14 bacterial strains (those dominant in disease lesions, absent or rare in healthy tissues and considered potential pathogens in a previous study) were cultured and used to experimentally inoculate otherwise healthy individuals in an attempt to fulfil Henle-Koch's postulates. However, only one (P180R), identified as closely related (99-100% sequence identity based on 1.4kb 16S RNA sequence) to Vibrio tubiashii, elicited signs of disease in tank experiments. Following experimental infection (which resulted in a 90% infection rate), the pathogen was also successfully re-isolated from the diseased tissues and re-inoculated in healthy corals colonies, therefore fulfilling the final stages of Henle-Koch's postulates. Finally, we report that PWPS appears to be a temperature-dependent disease, with significantly higher tissue loss (anova: d.f.=2, F=39.77, P<0.01) occurring at 30 degrees C [1.45 +/- 0.85cm(2) per day (mean +/- SE)] compared to ambient temperatures of 28 and 26 degrees C (0.73 +/- 0.80cm(2) per day (mean +/- SE) and 0.51 +/- 0.50cm(2) per day (mean +/- SE), respectively). specialized coral disease inoculation trials Porites lutea Vibrio tubiashii Western Indian Ocean OCEAN INDIEN REUNION MAYOTTE 036 Molecular Ecology 24 17 4570-4581 2015 0962-1083 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010064947 10.1111/mec.13326 0962-1083 [F B010064947] https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010064947 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/intranet/publi/2015/09/010064947.pdf Accès réservé (Intranet de l'IRD) IRD - Base Horizon / Pleins textes 2015-10-07 2017-08-23 fdi:010064947 fre