Exciting research recently published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B has both provided an insight into a deadly coral disease and presented a potential method of treating the condition which could benefit not only wild corals, but also those in captivity. With White Band Disease decimating coral reefs in the Caribbean, the team led by Dr Michael Sweet of the University of Derby, initially tested four different antibiotics to see how they affected the disease. Amazingly, two of the antibiotics successfully treated the corals. The results demonstrated that WBD, at least in this instance, was caused by three different bacteria, and a micro-organism called a ciliate. It also showed that WBD is very similar to another disease called White Syndrome which affects corals in the Indo-Pacific Ocean. More: Could Probiotics Treat Sick Corals?… More:
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