A decade-long epidemic of sea star wasting disease has devastated over 5 billion sea stars along the Pacific coast of North America, killing nearly all populations of certain species. However, scientists have finally identified the cause of the outbreak: bacteria.
Researchers analyzed coelomic fluid from healthy and diseased sea stars to discover Vibrio pectenicida, a type of bacteria that has been linked to warming water temperatures. The findings are significant because the bacteria were previously thought to be associated with disease in shellfish as well.
The discovery solves a long-standing question about the deadly disease, which affects not only sea stars but also entire Pacific ecosystems. Healthy sea stars play a crucial role in controlling sea urchin populations, and their decline has led to an explosion in kelp forests that are now at risk of collapse.
With this new knowledge, scientists hope to develop interventions to help recover sea star populations and restore balance to the ecosystem. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has listed several species as critically endangered, and researchers plan to explore potential treatments such as probiotics and test for natural immunity among affected populations.
Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/starfish-sea-star-died-epidemic-scientists-know-why