Definition:
Bald sea urchin disease, as its name suggest, is a bacterial disease that affects several sea urchin species on the coastline of California, North Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea.
Symptoms and Signs:
Infection occurs at the site of the physical injury. The infected area usually turns green, while the spine and other appendages are damages and eventually lost. The animal usually survives if the lesion is shallow and covers only 30% or less than the surface area. The animal then regenerates any lost tissue caused by the disease. However, deep lesions could cause death.
Causes:
Studies suggest that the bald sea urchin disease is caused by two pathogens – the Aeromonas salmonicida and listonella anguillarum.
