Pathogenic Vibrio spp. identified for white syndrome coral disease in  Tioman Island Marine Park, Malaysia

Fikri Akmal Khodzori; Shahbudin Saad; Nur Nazifah Mansor; Nur Amalin Nadia Mat Nasir; Nik Nadiah Nik Abdul Khalid; Fikri Zhafran Rawi

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Pathogenic Vibrio spp. identified for white syndrome coral disease in Tioman Island Marine Park, Malaysia

Author: Fikri Akmal Khodzori ¹ ; Shahbudin Saad ^{2
,

3} ; Nur Nazifah Mansor ^{2
,

3} ; Nur Amalin Nadia Mat Nasir ¹ ; Nik Nadiah Nik Abdul Khalid ¹ ; Fikri Zhafran Rawi ¹
Author Information

1. Department of Marine Science, Kulliyyah of Science, International Islamic University Malaysia, Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah, Bandar Indera Mahkota, 25200 Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia.
2. Department of Marine Science, Kulliyyah of Science, International Islamic University Malaysia, Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah, Bandar Indera Mahkota, 25200 Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia. &
3. Institute of Oceanography and Maritime Studies, Kulliyyah of Science, International Islamic University Malaysia, Kg. Cherok Paloh, 26160, Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia.
Publication Type:Journal Article
Keywords: Coral disease; White syndrome; Vibrio bacteria; Marine park; Peninsular Malaysia
MeSH: Vibrio--pathogenicity; Anthozoa
From:Malaysian Journal of Microbiology 2021;17(1):69-79
CountryMalaysia
Language:English
Abstract: Aims:Coral diseases have emerged over the last several decades, causing a loss of live coral cover in the Caribbean and Indo-Pacific reefs. Hence, microbiological and disease cultural techniques are commonly used to investigate their causative microbial agents. This is the first study to identify the potential of pathogenic Vibrio spp. isolated from apparently white syndrome (WS) coral disease in Tioman Island Marine Park using biochemical and molecular techniques.
Methodology and results:The Vibrio colonies were isolated from 108 samples of WS infected corals (Acropora cytherea and Montipora aequituberculata) including seawater, sediment and algae found adjacent to infected coral colonies. A total of one hundred representative Vibrio isolates were characterized and most of them (n=50) were identified as V. vulnificus, V. alginolyticus and Photobacterium damselae following biochemical analysis. The molecular analysis revealed six Vibrio spp. (V. coralliilyticus, V. hepatarius, V. brasiliensis, V. tubiashi, V. campbellii, V. ishigakensis) and one Photobacterium rosenbergii. Vibrio coralliilyticus isolated from all infected coral samples may be highly responsible for the sign of WS disease.
Conclusion, significance and impact of study:The findings of this study provide baseline data and information on potential coral pathogens identified in the coastal waters of Tioman Island. Etiological disease study is suggested to validate their severity and virulence factors in the future.
Full text:20.2021my0009.pdf