title: Aspergillosis in the common sea fan Gorgonia ventalina: isolation of waterborne hyphae and spores.
abstract: The octocoral disease aspergillosis is caused by the terrestrial fungus Aspergillus sydowii. The possibility of secondary (horizontal) transmission of aspergillosis among common sea fans Gorgonia ventalina would require waterborne transmission of hyphae and/or spores. A laboratory filtration experiment confirmed that fungal hyphae and spores were shed into the water by infected fans. This suggests that secondary infection might be possible in this species. It remains to be determined whether healthy fans actually develop aspergillosis after contact with hyphae-laden water.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana 70118, USA.
authors.forename: Victoria J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Troeger
authors.forename: Paul W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Sammarco
authors.forename: John H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Caruso
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D037421:Anthozoa / Q000382:microbiology*; D001230:Aspergillus / Q000502:physiology*; D017691:Caribbean Region; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D025301:Hyphae / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology