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Two substances typically associated with swimming pool sanitation and skin hydration may offer solutions for preserving coral ecosystems and mitigating antibiotic resistance as well as pollution in the marine environment. A novel paste combining chlorine with cocoa butter could serve as a promising treatment for Atlantic corals suffering from stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD). These experimental results were detailed in a study published on November 14 in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science.
Understanding Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD)
Coral reefs globally are facing significant challenges, primarily due to factors such as rising ocean temperatures, habitat destruction, pollution, and various diseases. SCTLD is an extremely deadly condition first identified in 2014 that affects over 20 species of coral, according to data from NOAA. This disease has been documented across reefs in 18 different countries and territories. It manifests through lesions that progressively damage the soft tissue of corals, leading to rapid deterioration.
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Marine biologists often resort to antibiotics like amoxicillin to combat SCTLD; however, this approach can lead to increased antibiotic resistance—similar issues faced by humans.
“Antibiotic contamination poses a global challenge,” stated Greta Aeby, co-author of the study and marine biologist at Qatar University. “We aim to create a non-antibiotic solution that can effectively slow down tissue loss diseases.”
Comparing Amoxicillin with Chlorine Treatments
In their recent research, scientists evaluated various treatments for SCTLD by applying them directly onto infected corals located at Horseshoe Reef near the British Virgin Islands. Some groups received amoxicillin while others were treated with a paste made from chlorine mixed with cocoa butter.
“The active component here is sodium hypochlorite—a common antiseptic used for eliminating bacteria or viruses,” explained Aeby. “The chlorine powder utilized is identical to what’s employed for disinfecting swimming pools; cocoa butter serves merely as a medium for applying chlorine onto coral lesions.”
Both treatments were administered directly onto affected corals during periodic assessments every four or five weeks where they measured lesion sizes and reapplied treatments when necessary. After approximately 80 days, it was observed that median tissue loss was recorded at 17.6 percent among those treated with chlorine compared to just 1.7 percent among those receiving amoxicillin.
A Promising Alternative for Marine Health
< pclass =" article -paragraph -skip ” > Furthermore , conventional antibiotics can have detrimental effects on ecosystems , potentially harming other organisms while contributing further resistance making bacterial infections increasingly difficult . The combination of chlorinated compounds along with cocoa butter offers an environmentally friendly alternative since it breaks down easily , losing potency within just one day . Additionally , these ingredients are cost-effective because they’re readily available at local hardware stores or pharmacies.
< pclass =" article -paragraph -skip ” > “Producing antibiotic pastes tends not only be labor-intensive but also prohibitively expensive especially considering conservationists often operate under tight budgets throughout Caribbean regions,” remarked Argel Horton who co-authored this study alongside his role at British Virgin Islands’ Ministry of Environment Natural Resources Climate Change .
< pclass =" article -paragraph -skip ” > Despite promising results , not all tested corals responded uniformly towards either treatment method employed during trials conducted thus far . With over six thousand recognized species existing worldwide there remains vast diversity amongst different types inhabiting varied environments which weren’t included here ; future investigations should explore efficacy across broader ranges.
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< pclass =" article -paragraph-skip ” > While targeted interventions may alleviate symptoms temporarily they do not eradicate pathogens entirely similar how treating colds doesn’t eliminate viruses circulating among humans ; direct approaches might reduce pathogen loads present within surrounding waters yet manually treating individual colonies isn’t sustainable long-term nor feasible across larger scales.
< pclass =" article -paragraph-skip ” > “Ultimately enhancing environmental conditions will empower these organisms enabling them better resist illnesses independently,” concluded Aeby emphasizing importance cleaning up water sources restoring balance ecosystems overall.”
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