Signalment:Coral colonies from the species Stylophora pistillata, Pocillopora damicornis, Acropora tenuis, Acropora hyacithus, and Acropora millepora.
History:A coral reef system at the Steinhart Aquarium experienced a population explosion of pycnogonid sea spiders (Arthropoda: Class Pycnogonida) with subsequent negative health effects on the corals species in the system. Biopsies of corals were sent to Zoetis Reference Labs to aid with diagnosis and then monitoring of corals during treatment.
Gross Lesions:Ailing colonies exhibited a general poor appearance: pallor due to expulsion or degeneration of the pigmented commensal zooxanthellae that live within coral tissue (ÒbleachingÓ), a general loss of polyps, and exposure of white skeleton that comes from a recession or complete loss of the epithelial tissue that covers it.