title: Histological observations in the Hawaiian reef coral, Porites compressa, affected by Porites bleaching with tissue loss.
abstract: The scleractinian finger coral Porites compressa is affected by the coral disease Porites bleaching with tissue loss (PBTL). This disease initially manifests as bleaching of the coenenchyme (tissue between polyps) while the polyps remain brown with eventual tissue loss and subsequent algal overgrowth of the bare skeleton. Histopathological investigation showed a loss of symbiont and melanin-containing granular cells which was more pronounced in the coenenchyme than the polyps. Cell counts confirmed a 65% reduction in symbiont density. Tissue loss was due to tissue fragmentation and necrosis in affected areas. In addition, a reduction in putative bacterial aggregate densities was found in diseased samples but no potential pathogens were observed.
authors: School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6140, New Zealand.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Sudek
authors: T M
authors: TM
authors: Work
authors: G S
authors: GS
authors: Aeby
authors: S K
authors: SK
authors: Davy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D037421:Anthozoa / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000502:physiology*; D057894:Coral Reefs; D004141:Dinoflagellida / Q000502:physiology; D006254:Hawaii; D013559:Symbiosis