2
|
Hewson I, Ritchie IT, Evans JS, Altera A, Behringer D, Bowman E, Brandt M, Budd KA, Camacho RA, Cornwell TO, Countway PD, Croquer A, Delgado GA, DeRito C, Duermit-Moreau E, Francis-Floyd R, Gittens S, Henderson L, Hylkema A, Kellogg CA, Kiryu Y, Kitson-Walters KA, Kramer P, Lang JC, Lessios H, Liddy L, Marancik D, Nimrod S, Patterson JT, Pistor M, Romero IC, Sellares-Blasco R, Sevier ML, Sharp WC, Souza M, Valdez-Trinidad A, van der Laan M, Vilanova-Cuevas B, Villalpando M, Von Hoene SD, Warham M, Wijers T, Williams SM, Work TM, Yanong RP, Zambrano S, Zimmermann A, Breitbart M. A scuticociliate causes mass mortality of Diadema antillarum in the Caribbean Sea. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadg3200. [PMID: 37075109 PMCID: PMC10115408 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adg3200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Echinoderm mass mortality events shape marine ecosystems by altering the dynamics among major benthic groups. The sea urchin Diadema antillarum, virtually extirpated in the Caribbean in the early 1980s by an unknown cause, recently experienced another mass mortality beginning in January 2022. We investigated the cause of this mass mortality event through combined molecular biological and veterinary pathologic approaches comparing grossly normal and abnormal animals collected from 23 sites, representing locations that were either affected or unaffected at the time of sampling. Here, we report that a scuticociliate most similar to Philaster apodigitiformis was consistently associated with abnormal urchins at affected sites but was absent from unaffected sites. Experimentally challenging naïve urchins with a Philaster culture isolated from an abnormal, field-collected specimen resulted in gross signs consistent with those of the mortality event. The same ciliate was recovered from treated specimens postmortem, thus fulfilling Koch's postulates for this microorganism. We term this condition D. antillarum scuticociliatosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ian Hewson
- Department of Microbiology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
- Corresponding author.
| | - Isabella T. Ritchie
- College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, FL, USA
| | - James S. Evans
- U.S. Geological Survey, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, St. Petersburg, FL, USA
| | - Ashley Altera
- Department of Microbiology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Donald Behringer
- School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Erin Bowman
- Department of Planning and Natural Resources, Virgin Islands Government, Christiansted, VI, USA
- National Coral Reef Management Fellowship, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA
| | - Marilyn Brandt
- Center for Marine and Environmental Studies, University of the Virgin Islands, Saint Thomas, VI, USA
| | - Kayla A. Budd
- Center for Marine and Environmental Studies, University of the Virgin Islands, Saint Thomas, VI, USA
| | - Ruleo A. Camacho
- Antigua and Barbuda National Parks Authority, Nelson’s Dockyard, Antigua and Barbuda
| | - Tomas O. Cornwell
- St Eustatius National Parks Foundation, Oranjestad, Caribbean, Netherlands
| | | | - Aldo Croquer
- Central Caribbean Program, The Nature Conservancy, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
| | - Gabriel A. Delgado
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Marathon, FL, USA
| | | | - Elizabeth Duermit-Moreau
- School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Ruth Francis-Floyd
- School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Samuel Gittens
- Center for Marine and Environmental Studies, University of the Virgin Islands, Saint Thomas, VI, USA
| | - Leslie Henderson
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Office for Coastal Management, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Alwin Hylkema
- Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences, Leeuwarden, Netherlands
- Marine Animal Ecology Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Christina A. Kellogg
- U.S. Geological Survey, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, St. Petersburg, FL, USA
| | - Yasunari Kiryu
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, St. Petersburg, FL, USA
| | - Kimani A. Kitson-Walters
- Caribbean Netherlands Science Institute, St. Eustatius, Caribbean, Netherlands
- NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Oranjestad, Caribbean, Netherlands
| | - Patricia Kramer
- Ocean Research and Education Foundation, Atlantic and Gulf Rapid Reef Assessment, Big Pine Key, FL, USA
| | - Judith C. Lang
- Ocean Research and Education Foundation, Atlantic and Gulf Rapid Reef Assessment, Big Pine Key, FL, USA
| | - Harilaos Lessios
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama City, Republic of Panama
| | | | - David Marancik
- School of Veterinary Sciences, St. George’s University, St. George’s, Grenada
| | - Stephen Nimrod
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Conservation, St. George’s University, St. George’s, Grenada
| | - Joshua T. Patterson
- School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Marit Pistor
- St Eustatius National Parks Foundation, Oranjestad, Caribbean, Netherlands
| | - Isabel C. Romero
- College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, FL, USA
| | | | - Moriah L. B. Sevier
- Center for Marine and Environmental Studies, University of the Virgin Islands, Saint Thomas, VI, USA
| | - William C. Sharp
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Marathon, FL, USA
| | - Matthew Souza
- Center for Marine and Environmental Studies, University of the Virgin Islands, Saint Thomas, VI, USA
| | | | | | | | - Maria Villalpando
- Fundación Dominicana de Estudios Marinos, Bayahibe, Dominican Republic
| | - Sarah D. Von Hoene
- Center for Marine and Environmental Studies, University of the Virgin Islands, Saint Thomas, VI, USA
| | - Matthew Warham
- Department of Planning and Natural Resources, Virgin Islands Government, Christiansted, VI, USA
| | - Tom Wijers
- Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences, Leeuwarden, Netherlands
- Marine Animal Ecology Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | | | - Thierry M. Work
- U.S. Geological Survey, National Wildlife Health Center, Honolulu Field Station, Honolulu, HI, USA
| | - Roy P. Yanong
- School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | | | - Alizee Zimmermann
- Turks and Caicos Reef Fund, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands
| | - Mya Breitbart
- College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, FL, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Dawson Taylor D, Farr JJ, Lim EG, Fleet JL, Smith Wuitchik SJ, Wuitchik DM. Heat stress does not induce wasting symptoms in the giant California sea cucumber ( Apostichopus californicus). PeerJ 2023; 11:e14548. [PMID: 36778149 PMCID: PMC9912942 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.14548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Oceanic heatwaves have significant impacts on disease dynamics in marine ecosystems. Following an extreme heatwave in Nanoose Bay, British Columbia, Canada, a severe sea cucumber wasting event occurred that resulted in the mass mortality of Apostichopus californicus. Here, we sought to determine if heat stress in isolation could trigger wasting symptoms in A. californicus. We exposed sea cucumbers to (i) a simulated marine heatwave (22 °C), (ii) an elevated temperature treatment (17 °C), or (iii) control conditions (12 °C). We measured the presence of skin lesions, mortality, posture maintenance, antipredator defences, spawning, and organ evisceration during the 79-hour thermal exposure, as well as 7-days post-exposure. Both the 22 °C and 17 °C treatments elicited stress responses where individuals exhibited a reduced ability to maintain posture and an increase in stress spawning. The 22 °C heatwave was particularly stressful, as it was the only treatment where mortality was observed. However, none of the treatments induced wasting symptoms as observed in the Nanoose Bay event. This study provides evidence that sea cucumber wasting may not be triggered by heat stress in isolation, leaving the cause of the mass mortality event observed in Nanoose unknown.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Declan Dawson Taylor
- Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada,Bamfield Marine Sciences Center, Bamfield, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Jonathan J. Farr
- Bamfield Marine Sciences Center, Bamfield, British Columbia, Canada,Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Em G. Lim
- Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Jenna L. Fleet
- Bamfield Marine Sciences Center, Bamfield, British Columbia, Canada,Biological Sciences, University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Sara J. Smith Wuitchik
- Bamfield Marine Sciences Center, Bamfield, British Columbia, Canada,Biological Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States of America,Informatics Group, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States of America,Biology, Mount Royal University, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Daniel M. Wuitchik
- Bamfield Marine Sciences Center, Bamfield, British Columbia, Canada,Biological Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Oulhen N, Byrne M, Duffin P, Gomez-Chiarri M, Hewson I, Hodin J, Konar B, Lipp EK, Miner BG, Newton AL, Schiebelhut LM, Smolowitz R, Wahltinez SJ, Wessel GM, Work TM, Zaki HA, Wares JP. A Review of Asteroid Biology in the Context of Sea Star Wasting: Possible Causes and Consequences. THE BIOLOGICAL BULLETIN 2022; 243:50-75. [PMID: 36108034 PMCID: PMC10642522 DOI: 10.1086/719928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
AbstractSea star wasting-marked in a variety of sea star species as varying degrees of skin lesions followed by disintegration-recently caused one of the largest marine die-offs ever recorded on the west coast of North America, killing billions of sea stars. Despite the important ramifications this mortality had for coastal benthic ecosystems, such as increased abundance of prey, little is known about the causes of the disease or the mechanisms of its progression. Although there have been studies indicating a range of causal mechanisms, including viruses and environmental effects, the broad spatial and depth range of affected populations leaves many questions remaining about either infectious or non-infectious mechanisms. Wasting appears to start with degradation of mutable connective tissue in the body wall, leading to disintegration of the epidermis. Here, we briefly review basic sea star biology in the context of sea star wasting and present our current knowledge and hypotheses related to the symptoms, the microbiome, the viruses, and the associated environmental stressors. We also highlight throughout the article knowledge gaps and the data needed to better understand sea star wasting mechanistically, its causes, and potential management.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie Oulhen
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
| | - Maria Byrne
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Paige Duffin
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
| | - Marta Gomez-Chiarri
- Department of Fisheries, Animal, and Veterinary Science, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island
| | - Ian Hewson
- Department of Microbiology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
| | - Jason Hodin
- Friday Harbor Labs, University of Washington, Friday Harbor, Washington
| | - Brenda Konar
- College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, Alaska
| | - Erin K. Lipp
- Department of Environmental Health Science, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
| | - Benjamin G. Miner
- Department of Biology, Western Washington University, Bellingham, Washington
| | | | - Lauren M. Schiebelhut
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of California, Merced, California
| | - Roxanna Smolowitz
- Department of Biology and Marine Biology, Roger Williams University, Bristol, Rhode Island
| | - Sarah J. Wahltinez
- Department of Comparative, Diagnostic, and Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Gary M. Wessel
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
| | - Thierry M. Work
- US Geological Survey, National Wildlife Health Center, Honolulu Field Station, Honolulu, Hawaii
| | - Hossam A. Zaki
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
| | - John P. Wares
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
- Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
| |
Collapse
|