Eisenlord Morgan E, Agnew M Victoria, Winningham Miranda, Lobo Olivia J, Vompe Alex D, Wippel Bryanda, Friedman Carolyn S, Harvell C Drew, Burge Colleen A
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
Institute of Marine Environmental Technology, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD 21202, USA.
R Soc Open Sci. 2024 Aug 7;11(8):240663. doi: 10.1098/rsos.240663. eCollection 2024 Aug.
Pathogen transmission pathways are fundamental to understanding the epidemiology of infectious diseases yet are challenging to estimate in nature, particularly in the ocean. Seagrass wasting disease (SWD), caused by , impacts seagrass beds worldwide and is thought to be a contributing factor to declines; however, little is known about natural transmission of SWD. In this study, we used field and laboratory experiments to test SWD transmission pathways and temperature sensitivity. To test transmission modes in nature, we conducted three field experiments out-planting sentinel shoots within and adjacent to natural beds (20 ± 5 and 110 ± 5 m from bed edge). Infection rates and severity did not differ among outplant locations, implicating waterborne transmission. The infectious dose of through waterborne exposure was assessed in a controlled laboratory experiment. The dose to 50% disease was 6 cells ml and did not differ with the temperatures tested (7.5°C and 15°C). Our results show is transmissible through water without direct contact with infected plants. Understanding the transmission dynamics of this disease in the context of changing ocean conditions will improve protection and restoration in critical coastal habitats worldwide.
病原体传播途径对于理解传染病流行病学至关重要，但在自然环境中，尤其是在海洋中，很难进行估计。由[病原体名称未给出]引起的海草衰退病（SWD）影响着全球的海草床，被认为是海草数量下降的一个促成因素；然而，关于SWD的自然传播知之甚少。在本研究中，我们通过野外和实验室实验来测试SWD的传播途径和温度敏感性。为了测试自然环境中的传播模式，我们进行了三项野外实验，在天然海草床内部和附近种植哨兵嫩枝（距离海草床边缘20±5米和110±5米）。不同种植地点的感染率和严重程度没有差异，这表明是通过水传播。在一项受控实验室实验中评估了通过水传播暴露的[病原体名称未给出]的感染剂量。导致50%发病的剂量为每毫升6个细胞，并且在所测试的温度（7.5°C和15°C）下没有差异。我们的结果表明，[病原体名称未给出]可以通过水传播，而无需与受感染植物直接接触。在不断变化的海洋条件背景下了解这种疾病的传播动态，将改善全球关键沿海栖息地的[海草]保护和恢复。
