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Bette L Willis - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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scuba diving damage and intensity of tourist activities increases coral Disease Prevalence
Biological Conservation, 2014Co-Authors: Srisakul Piromvaragorn, Joleah B. Lamb, James True, Bette L WillisAbstract:Recreational diving and snorkeling on coral reefs is one of the fastest growing tourism sectors globally. Damage associated with intensive recreational tourist use has been documented extensively on coral reefs, however other impacts on coral health are unknown. Here, we compare the Prevalence of 4 coral Diseases and 8 other indicators of compromised coral health at high and low use dive sites around the island of Koh Tao, Thailand. Surveys of 10,499 corals reveal that the mean Prevalence of healthy corals at low use sites (79%) was twice that at high use sites (45%). We also found a 3-fold increase in coral Disease Prevalence at high use sites, as well as significant increases in sponge overgrowth, physical injury, tissue necrosis from sediment, and non-normally pigmented coral tissues. Injured corals were more susceptible to skeletal eroding band Disease only at high use sites, suggesting that additional stressors associated with use intensity facilitate Disease development. Sediment necrosis of coral tissues was strongly associated with the Prevalence of white syndromes, a devastating group of Diseases, across all sites. We did not find significant differences in mean levels of coral growth anomalies or black band Disease between high and low use sites. Our results suggest that several indicators of coral health increase understanding of impacts associated with rapid tourism development. Identifying practical management strategies, such as spatial management of multiple reef-based activities, is necessary to balance growth of tourism and maintenance of coral reefs.
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global coral Disease Prevalence associated with sea temperature anomalies and local factors
Diseases of Aquatic Organisms, 2012Co-Authors: Diego Ruizmoreno, Bette L Willis, Cathie A Page, Ernesto Weil, Aldo Croquer, Bernardo Vargasangel, A G Jordangarza, Eric Jordandahlgren, Laurie J Raymundo, Drew C HarvellAbstract:Coral Diseases are taking an increasing toll on coral reef structure and biodiversity and are important indicators of declining health in the oceans. We implemented standardized coral Disease surveys to pinpoint hotspots of coral Disease, reveal vulnerable coral families and test hypotheses about climate drivers from 39 locations worldwide. We analyzed a 3 yr study of coral Disease Prevalence to identify links between Disease and a range of covariates, including thermal anomalies (from satellite data), location and coral cover, using a Generalized Linear Mixed Model. Prevalence of unhealthy corals, i.e. those with signs of known Diseases or with other signs of compromised health, exceeded 10% on many reefs and ranged to over 50% on some. Disease Prevalence exceeded 10% on 20% of Caribbean reefs and 2.7% of Pacific reefs surveyed. Within the same coral families across oceans, Prevalence of unhealthy colonies was higher and some Diseases were more common at sites in the Caribbean than those in the Pacific. The effects of high Disease Prevalence are potentially extensive given that the most affected coral families, the acroporids, faviids and siderastreids, are among the major reef-builders at these sites. The poritids and agaricids stood out in the Caribbean as being the most resistant to Disease, even though these families were abundant in our surveys. Regional warm temperature anomalies were strongly correlated with high Disease Prevalence. The levels of Disease reported here will provide a much-needed local reference point against which to compare future change.
Joleah B. Lamb - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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scuba diving damage and intensity of tourist activities increases coral Disease Prevalence
Biological Conservation, 2014Co-Authors: Srisakul Piromvaragorn, Joleah B. Lamb, James True, Bette L WillisAbstract:Recreational diving and snorkeling on coral reefs is one of the fastest growing tourism sectors globally. Damage associated with intensive recreational tourist use has been documented extensively on coral reefs, however other impacts on coral health are unknown. Here, we compare the Prevalence of 4 coral Diseases and 8 other indicators of compromised coral health at high and low use dive sites around the island of Koh Tao, Thailand. Surveys of 10,499 corals reveal that the mean Prevalence of healthy corals at low use sites (79%) was twice that at high use sites (45%). We also found a 3-fold increase in coral Disease Prevalence at high use sites, as well as significant increases in sponge overgrowth, physical injury, tissue necrosis from sediment, and non-normally pigmented coral tissues. Injured corals were more susceptible to skeletal eroding band Disease only at high use sites, suggesting that additional stressors associated with use intensity facilitate Disease development. Sediment necrosis of coral tissues was strongly associated with the Prevalence of white syndromes, a devastating group of Diseases, across all sites. We did not find significant differences in mean levels of coral growth anomalies or black band Disease between high and low use sites. Our results suggest that several indicators of coral health increase understanding of impacts associated with rapid tourism development. Identifying practical management strategies, such as spatial management of multiple reef-based activities, is necessary to balance growth of tourism and maintenance of coral reefs.
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sediment and turbidity associated with offshore dredging increase coral Disease Prevalence on nearby reefs
PLOS ONE, 2014Co-Authors: Joleah B. Lamb, Joseph F Pollock, Stuart N Field, Scott F Heron, Britta Schaffelke, George Shedrawi, David G BourneAbstract:In recent decades, coral reef ecosystems have declined to the extent that reefs are now threatened globally. While many water quality parameters have been proposed to contribute to reef declines, little evidence exists conclusively linking specific water quality parameters with increased Disease Prevalence in situ. Here we report evidence from in situ coral health surveys confirming that chronic exposure to dredging-associated sediment plumes significantly increase the Prevalence of white syndromes, a devastating group of globally important coral Diseases. Coral health surveys were conducted along a dredging-associated sediment plume gradient to assess the relationship between sedimentation, turbidity and coral health. Reefs exposed to the highest number of days under the sediment plume (296 to 347 days) had two-fold higher levels of Disease, largely driven by a 2.5-fold increase in white syndromes, and a six-fold increase in other signs of compromised coral health relative to reefs with little or no plume exposure (0 to 9 days). Multivariate modeling and ordination incorporating sediment exposure level, coral community composition and cover, predation and multiple thermal stress indices provided further confirmation that sediment plume exposure level was the main driver of elevated Disease and other compromised coral health indicators. This study provides the first evidence linking dredging-associated sedimentation and turbidity with elevated coral Disease Prevalence in situ. Our results may help to explain observed increases in global coral Disease Prevalence in recent decades and suggest that minimizing sedimentation and turbidity associated with coastal development will provide an important management tool for controlling coral Disease epizootics.
Kevin L Winthrop - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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association between inhaled corticosteroid use and pulmonary nontuberculous mycobacterial infection
Annals of the American Thoracic Society, 2018Co-Authors: Vincent Liu, Kevin L Winthrop, Husham Sharifi, Hekmat Nasiri, Stephen J RuossAbstract:Rationale: Nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) pulmonary Disease Prevalence is increasing.Objectives: To determine the association between the use of inhaled corticosteroids and the likelihood of NT...
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pulmonary nontuberculous mycobacterial Disease Prevalence and clinical features an emerging public health Disease
American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 2010Co-Authors: Kevin L Winthrop, Ashlen Saulson, Erin Mcnelley, Brian Kendall, Allison Marshallolson, Christy Morris, Maureen Cassidy, Katrina HedbergAbstract:Rationale: Respiratory specimens with nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are increasingly common; however, pulmonary Disease Prevalence is unknown. Objectives: To determine the Disease Prevalence, clinical features, andriskfactorsforNTMDisease,andtoexaminethepredictivevalue ofthemicrobiologiccriteriaoftheAmericanThoracicSociety(ATS)/ Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) pulmonary NTM case definition for true NTM Disease. Methods: We identified all Oregon residents during 2005‐2006 with at least one respiratory mycobacterial isolate. From a populationbased subset of these patients, we collected clinical and radiologic informationandusedtheATS/IDSApulmonaryNTMDiseasecriteria to define Disease. Measurements and Main Results: In the 2-year time period, 807 OregonianshadoneormorerespiratoryNTMisolates.Fourhundred and seven (50%) resided within the Portland metropolitan region, among which 283 (70%) had evaluable clinical records. For those with records, 134 (47%) met ATS/IDSA pulmonary NTM Disease criteria for a minimum overall 2-year period Prevalence of 8.6/ 100,000 persons, and 20.4/100,000 in those at least 50 years of age within the Portland region. Case subjects were 66 years of age (median; range, 12‐92 yr), frequently female (59%), and most with Disease caused by Mycobacterium avium complex (88%). Cavitation (24.5%), bronchiectasis (16%), chronic obstructive pulmonary Disease(28%),andimmunosuppressivetherapy(25.5%)werecommon. Eighty-six percent of patients meeting the ATS/IDSA microbiologic criteria for Disease also met the full ATS/IDSA Disease criteria. Conclusions: Respiratory NTM isolates frequently represent Disease. Pulmonary NTM Disease is not uncommon, particularly among elderly females. The ATS/IDSA microbiologic criteria are highly predictive of Disease and could be useful for laboratory-based NTM Disease surveillance.
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nontuberculous mycobacterial Disease Prevalence and risk factors a changing epidemiology
Clinical Infectious Diseases, 2009Co-Authors: Maureen P Cassidy, Katrina Hedberg, Ashlen Saulson, Erin Mcnelly, Kevin L WinthropAbstract:Background Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are important human pathogens, yet little is known about Disease Prevalence in the United States. Reports suggest Prevalence has increased, particularly in women, but population-based data to substantiate this are lacking. We sought to estimate NTM Disease Prevalence in Oregon, and describe Disease by site, species, and patient demographic characteristics. Methods We contacted laboratories that performed mycobacterial cultures on Oregon residents in 2005-2006. For each isolate, we obtained source, collection date, species, and patient demographics. We used the microbiologic component of the American Thoracic Society/Infectious Diseases Society of America's pulmonary NTM Disease criteria to define cases of pulmonary NTM, and patients with isolates from a normally sterile site were classified as having extrapulmonary Disease. Results We identified 933 patients with > or =1 NTM isolate. Of these, 527 (56%) met the case definition (annualized Prevalence, 7.2 cases per 100,000 persons). Pulmonary cases predominated (5.6 cases per 100,000 persons), followed by skin/soft-tissue cases (0.9 cases per 100,000 persons). Mycobacterium avium complex was the most common species identified in pulmonary cases (4.7 cases per 100,000 persons). Pulmonary Disease Prevalence was significantly higher in women (6.4 cases per 100,000 persons) than men (4.7 cases per 100,000 persons) and was highest in persons aged >50 years (15.5 cases per 100,000 persons). Conclusions NTM are frequently isolated from Oregon residents; more than one-half of all isolates likely represent true Disease. Pulmonary NTM is most common among elderly women, and M. avium causes most Disease. Future efforts to monitor Disease trends should be undertaken, and efforts made to validate the use of the ATS/IDSA microbiologic criteria alone to predict pulmonary NTM Disease.
Erinn M Muller - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Disease Prevalence and snail predation associated with swell generated damage on the threatened coral acropora palmata lamarck
Frontiers in Marine Science, 2016Co-Authors: Caroline S Rogers, Allan J Bright, Erinn M Muller, Marilyn E Brandt, Tyler B SmithAbstract:Disturbances such as tropical storms cause coral mortality and reduce coral cover as a direct result of physical damage. Storms can be one of the most important disturbances in coral reef ecosystems, and it is crucial to understand their long-term impacts on coral populations. The primary objective of this study was to determine trends in Disease Prevalence and snail predation on damaged and undamaged colonies of the threatened coral species, Acropora palmata, following an episode of heavy ocean swells in the US Virgin Islands (USVI). At three sites on St. Thomas and St. John, colonies of A. palmata were surveyed monthly over one year following a series of large swells in March 2008 that fragmented 30 to 93% of colonies on monitored reefs. Post-disturbance surveys conducted from April 2008 through March 2009 showed that swell-generated damage to A. palmata caused negative indirect effects that compounded the initial direct effects of physical disturbance. During the 12 months after the swell event, white pox Disease Prevalence was 41% higher for colonies that sustained damage from the swells than for undamaged colonies (df = 207, p = 0.01) with greatest differences in Disease Prevalence occurring during warm water months. In addition, the corallivorous snail, Coralliophila abbreviata, was 46% more abundant on damaged corals than undamaged corals during the 12 months after the swell event (df = 207, p = 0.006).
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bleaching Disease and recovery in the threatened scleractinian coral acropora palmata in st john us virgin islands 2003 2010
Coral Reefs, 2012Co-Authors: Caroline S Rogers, Erinn M MullerAbstract:A long-term study of the scleractinian coral Acropora palmata in the US Virgin Islands (USVI) showed that Diseases, particularly white pox, are limiting the recovery of this threatened species. Colonies of A. palmata in Haulover Bay, within Virgin Islands National Park, St. John, were examined monthly in situ for signs of Disease and other stressors from January 2003 through December 2009. During the study, 89.9 % of the colonies (n = 69) exhibited Disease, including white pox (87 %), white band (13 %), and unknown (9 %). Monthly Disease Prevalence ranged from 0 to 57 %, and Disease was the most significant cause of complete colony mortality (n = 17). A positive correlation was found between water temperature and Disease Prevalence, but not incidence. Annual average Disease Prevalence and incidence remained constant during the study. Colonies generally showed an increase in the estimated amount of total living tissue from growth, but 25 (36.2 %) of the colonies died. Acropora palmata bleached in the USVI for the first time during the 2005 Caribbean bleaching event. Only one of the 23 colonies that bleached appeared to die directly from bleaching. In 2005, corals that bleached had greater Disease Prevalence than those that did not bleach. Just over half (52 %) of the colonies incurred some physical damage. Monitoring of fragments (broken branches) that were generated by physical damage through June 2007 showed that 46.1 % died and 28.4 % remained alive; the fragments that attached to the substrate survived longer than those that did not. Recent surveys showed an increase in the total number of colonies within the reef area, formed from both asexual and sexual reproduction. Genotype analysis of 48 of the originally monitored corals indicated that 43 grew from sexual recruits supporting the conclusion that both asexual and sexual reproduction are contributing to an increase in colony density at this site.
Aristidis K Nikoloulopoulos - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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a vine copula mixed effect model for trivariate meta analysis of diagnostic test accuracy studies accounting for Disease Prevalence
Statistical Methods in Medical Research, 2016Co-Authors: Aristidis K NikoloulopoulosAbstract:A bivariate copula mixed model has been recently proposed to synthesize diagnostic test accuracy studies and it has been shown that it is superior to the standard generalized linear mixed model in this context. Here, we call trivariate vine copulas to extend the bivariate meta-analysis of diagnostic test accuracy studies by accounting for Disease Prevalence. Our vine copula mixed model includes the trivariate generalized linear mixed model as a special case and can also operate on the original scale of sensitivity, specificity, and Disease Prevalence. Our general methodology is illustrated by re-analyzing the data of two published meta-analyses. Our study suggests that there can be an improvement on trivariate generalized linear mixed model in fit to data and makes the argument for moving to vine copula random effects models especially because of their richness, including reflection asymmetric tail dependence, and computational feasibility despite their three dimensionality.
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a vine copula mixed effect model for trivariate meta analysis of diagnostic test accuracy studies accounting for Disease Prevalence
arXiv: Methodology, 2015Co-Authors: Aristidis K NikoloulopoulosAbstract:A bivariate copula mixed model has been recently proposed to synthesize diagnostic test accuracy studies and it has been shown that is superior to the standard generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) in this context. Here we call trivariate vine copulas to extend the bivariate meta-analysis of diagnostic test accuracy studies by accounting for Disease Prevalence. Our vine copula mixed model includes the trivariate GLMM as a special case and can also operate on the original scale of sensitivity, specificity, and Disease Prevalence. Our general methodology is illustrated by re-analysing the data of two published meta-analyses. Our study suggests that there can be an improvement on trivariate GLMM in fit to data and makes the argument for moving to vine copula random effects models especially because of their richness including reflection asymmetric tail dependence, and, computational feasibility despite their three-dimensionality.