TWENTY-FIFTH ANNUAL EASTERN FISH HEALTH WORKSHOP MARCH 10-13, 2000   Pathogens And Potential Pathogens Of Corals     Garriet W. Smith   Biology Department, University of South Carolina, Aiken, SC,  29801       A number of coral diseases have been reported in recent years but the pathogenic agents for only a few have been determined. To date, all of the pathogenic agents known from corals have either been bacteria or fungi. Identification of these pathogens has been based on genetic comparisons (16s or 18s rDNA)but none have been fully characterized microbiologically. Among the fungal pathogens, the best characterized is Aspergillus sydowii, but recent chemical and inoculation data show that reference strains are very different than pathogenic strains. Similarly, most bacterial coral pathogens show biochemical and genetic characteristics most similar to the genus Vibrio, although many do not correspond to known strains. Some known coral disease isolates may represent new genera altogether. All of these pathogenic isolates are in the process of being characterized and new pathogens are being isolated.      Return to 25th Annual Eastern Fish Health Workshop Return to Leetown Science Center Home Page