Human medical technique
can diagnose sick coral


The elusive culprits that are killing countless coral reefs around the world can now be nabbed with technology normally used to diagnose human diseases, marine researchers in Australia say.

Coral researchers and reef managers will be able to identify coral infections using a new method that allows them to classify specific diseases based on the presence of microbes.

This could lead to more effective action to reduce the impact of disease on the world's imperiled coral reefs.

“Current classification of coral diseases is mostly based on a description of how the coral has deteriorated, such as the pattern of tissue loss and abnormal colors,” says Joseph Pollock, a doctoral student at the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies. “This is an ineffective way to identify coral diseases because different diseases can often look very similar. For instance, in the Caribbean alone, more than six white diseases show the same characteristics of tissue loss exposing white coral skeletons.”

Coral diseases can be caused by a number of different microbes, including viruses, bacteria and fungi. Knowing exactly which toxic organism leads to a particular disease is therefore important for accurate diagnosis – and for planning how to manage or control its impact.

One of Pollock’s supervisors, David Bourne from the Australian Institute of Marine Science, says that the recent worldwide decline of coral reefs has been accompanied by increased disease, creating an urgent need for a deeper understanding of the various diseases, including what harmful bacteria and viruses contribute to different coral diseases, what triggers them and how they spread.

“Instead of relying on appearances to tell us what disease the corals have, we need to determine what’s happening to them before the symptoms show,” he said. “This will help us to control, or reduce the impacts.”

By applying a diagnostic technology commonly used in human disease identification or in forensics, Pollock has found a diagnostic method that can accurately detect and quantify the coral pathogens in a sample of diseased coral.

The technology is often used in human medical research and creates a genetic fingerprint that both detects and quantifies a specific DNA molecule in a sample. It can detect pathogens at even very low levels, as few as a couple of bacteria in a cup of seawater,” Pollock said.

Apart from testing corals for the presence of pathogens, researchers can also use the technology on water samples to gauge the general health of the wider coral reef environment, Pollock said.

Medical strike negotiations
expected to continue today


The Unión Médica Nacional has joined striking anesthesiologists in a strike at public hospitals.

More negotiations are expected today to end the standoff.

The Caja Costarricense del Seguro Social operates the public hospitals, and officials there say that more than 2,000 surgeries have had to be postponed.

Tuesday was the first day that other doctors staged a walkout. The strike was not 100 percent effective, and public opinion is running against the physicians. The medical union joined the strike after two anesthesiologist were fired.

Heredia father faces
molesting allegation


Police arrested a man Monday in a park in Heredia because they suspect that he was molesting his 2-year-old daughter.

According to the Heredia police commissioner, Daniel Calderón, the agency received a phone call alleging the crime.

Calderón said agents followed up on the tip and found the man exhibiting inappropriate behavior with the girl in San Jorge park.