Phage therapy of the white plague-like disease of Favia favus in the Red Sea
-
Published source details
Atad I., Zvuloni A., Loya Y. & Rosenberg E. (2012) Phage therapy of the white plague-like disease of Favia favus in the Red Sea. Coral Reefs, 31, 665-670.
Published source details Atad I., Zvuloni A., Loya Y. & Rosenberg E. (2012) Phage therapy of the white plague-like disease of Favia favus in the Red Sea. Coral Reefs, 31, 665-670.
Actions
This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
| Action | Category | |
|---|---|---|
|
Control spread of disease using biological, chemical and/or mechanical methods Action Link |
 |
|
|
Control spread of disease using biological, chemical and/or mechanical methods Action Link |
|
-
Control spread of disease using biological, chemical and/or mechanical methods
A replicated, controlled study in 2009 and 2011 at a reef in the Gulf of Aqaba, Eilat, Israel (Atad et al. 2012) found that using biological ‘phage’ therapy (a virus that attacks the disease bacteria) to treat massive coral Favia favus infected with white plague-like disease Thalassomonas loyana slowed the disease progression compared to untreated coral. In 2009, average tissue loss after 28 days following treatment was significantly lower for treated coral (5%) compared to untreated (65%). In 2011, after 47 days there was no live tissue loss in two of three treated corals but a 60% loss in the third treated coral (overall average 13% loss) compared to an average of 57% for untreated corals. In September 2009 and September 2011, healthy Favia favus colonies (16–20/year) and four to six colonies showing signs of white plague-like disease were collected from a reef near Eilat. Eight to 10 healthy colonies were fixed in a circle to each of two nets on a plastic frame placed on the seabed and two (2009) or three (2011) diseased colonies fixed in the centre of each frame. Each frame was covered by a bottomless three-sided clear plastic box. Phages were injected into one of the two boxes each year, the second box was a no-phage control. Boxes were removed after 48 h. Corals were monitored visually and photographically for signs of disease progression at intervals for 28 days (2009) and 47 days (2011).
(Summarised by: Ann Thornton)
-
Control spread of disease using biological, chemical and/or mechanical methods
A replicated, controlled study in 2009 and 2011 at a reef Gulf of Aqaba, Eilat, Israel (Atad et al. 2012) found that using biological ‘phage’ therapy (a virus that attacks the disease bacteria) to treat massive coral Favia favus infected with white plague-like disease Thalassomonas loyana reduced the spread of disease to neighbouring, healthy coral. In 2009, after 20 days, only one of nine healthly corals surrounding the treated diseased coral showed signs of disease compared to five of eight healthy corals surrounding untreated diseased coral. In 2011, after 47 days, none of the 10 healthy corals near treated corals showed signs of disease whereas six of 10 corals near untreated diseased corals showed disease. In September 2009 and September 2011, healthy Favia favus colonies (16–20/year) and four to six colonies showing signs of white plague-like disease were collected from a reef near Eilat. Eight to 10 healthy colonies were fixed in a circle to each of two nets on a plastic frame placed on the seabed and two (2009) or three (2011) diseased colonies fixed in the centre of each frame. Each frame was covered by a bottomless three-sided clear plastic box. Phages were injected into one of the two boxes each year, the second box was a no-phage control. Boxes were removed after 48 h. Healthy corals were monitored visually and photographically for signs of disease at intervals for 28 days (2009) and 47 days (2011).
(Summarised by: Ann Thornton)
)_2023 - Compressed.JPG)
