Feeding Behavior of <i>Coralliophila</i> sp. on Corals Affected by Caribbean Ciliate Infection (CCI): A New Possible Vector?
Coral reefs in the Caribbean are known to be affected by many coral diseases, yet the ecology and etiology of most diseases remain understudied. The Caribbean ciliate infection (CCI) caused by ciliates belonging to the genus <i>Halofolliculina</i> is a common disease on Caribbean reefs,...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-05-01
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| Series: | Diversity |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/14/5/363 |
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| author | Simone Montano Greta Aeby Paolo Galli Bert W. Hoeksema |
| author_facet | Simone Montano Greta Aeby Paolo Galli Bert W. Hoeksema |
| author_sort | Simone Montano |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Coral reefs in the Caribbean are known to be affected by many coral diseases, yet the ecology and etiology of most diseases remain understudied. The Caribbean ciliate infection (CCI) caused by ciliates belonging to the genus <i>Halofolliculina</i> is a common disease on Caribbean reefs, with direct contact considered the most likely way through which the ciliates can be transmitted between infected and healthy colonies. Here we report an observation regarding a <i>Coralliophila</i> sp. snail feeding in proximity to a cluster of ciliates forming the typical disease band of CCI. The result of this observation is twofold. The feeding behavior of the snail may allow the passive attachment of ciliates on the body or shell of the snail resulting in indirect transport of the ciliates among colonies, which makes it eligible as a possible disease vector. Alternatively, the lesions created from snail feeding may enhance the progression of the ciliates already present on the coral as well as promoting additional infections allowing pathogens to enter through the feeding scar. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:01:41Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3042e696c15b4b01997a09abf8995ff0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-2818 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:01:41Z |
| publishDate | 2022-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Diversity |
| spelling | doaj.art-3042e696c15b4b01997a09abf8995ff02023-11-23T10:43:06ZengMDPI AGDiversity1424-28182022-05-0114536310.3390/d14050363Feeding Behavior of <i>Coralliophila</i> sp. on Corals Affected by Caribbean Ciliate Infection (CCI): A New Possible Vector?Simone Montano0Greta Aeby1Paolo Galli2Bert W. Hoeksema3Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (DISAT), University of Milan–Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza, 20126 Milan, ItalyDepartment of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Qatar University, Doha 2713, QatarDepartment of Earth and Environmental Sciences (DISAT), University of Milan–Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza, 20126 Milan, ItalyTaxonomy, Systematics and Geodiversity Group, Naturalis Biodiversity Center, 2300 RA Leiden, The NetherlandsCoral reefs in the Caribbean are known to be affected by many coral diseases, yet the ecology and etiology of most diseases remain understudied. The Caribbean ciliate infection (CCI) caused by ciliates belonging to the genus <i>Halofolliculina</i> is a common disease on Caribbean reefs, with direct contact considered the most likely way through which the ciliates can be transmitted between infected and healthy colonies. Here we report an observation regarding a <i>Coralliophila</i> sp. snail feeding in proximity to a cluster of ciliates forming the typical disease band of CCI. The result of this observation is twofold. The feeding behavior of the snail may allow the passive attachment of ciliates on the body or shell of the snail resulting in indirect transport of the ciliates among colonies, which makes it eligible as a possible disease vector. Alternatively, the lesions created from snail feeding may enhance the progression of the ciliates already present on the coral as well as promoting additional infections allowing pathogens to enter through the feeding scar.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/14/5/363coral disease<i>Halofolliculina</i>transmission mechanismBonaire<i>Acropora</i> |
| spellingShingle | Simone Montano Greta Aeby Paolo Galli Bert W. Hoeksema Feeding Behavior of <i>Coralliophila</i> sp. on Corals Affected by Caribbean Ciliate Infection (CCI): A New Possible Vector? Diversity coral disease <i>Halofolliculina</i> transmission mechanism Bonaire <i>Acropora</i> |
| title | Feeding Behavior of <i>Coralliophila</i> sp. on Corals Affected by Caribbean Ciliate Infection (CCI): A New Possible Vector? |
| title_full | Feeding Behavior of <i>Coralliophila</i> sp. on Corals Affected by Caribbean Ciliate Infection (CCI): A New Possible Vector? |
| title_fullStr | Feeding Behavior of <i>Coralliophila</i> sp. on Corals Affected by Caribbean Ciliate Infection (CCI): A New Possible Vector? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Feeding Behavior of <i>Coralliophila</i> sp. on Corals Affected by Caribbean Ciliate Infection (CCI): A New Possible Vector? |
| title_short | Feeding Behavior of <i>Coralliophila</i> sp. on Corals Affected by Caribbean Ciliate Infection (CCI): A New Possible Vector? |
| title_sort | feeding behavior of i coralliophila i sp on corals affected by caribbean ciliate infection cci a new possible vector |
| topic | coral disease <i>Halofolliculina</i> transmission mechanism Bonaire <i>Acropora</i> |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/14/5/363 |
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