Scuticociliate Explained

Scuticociliatia is a subclass of ciliates in the class Oligohymenophorea. Its members are called scuticociliates. These unicellular eukaryotes are microorganisms that are usually free-living and can be found in freshwater, marine, and soil habitats.^[1] Around 20 members of the group have been identified as causative agents of the disease scuticociliatosis, in which the ciliates are parasites of other marine organisms. Species known to be susceptible include a broad range of teleosts, seahorses, sharks, and some crustaceans.^[2] Since 2022 there have also been several reports that scuticociliates might be responsible for mass die-off events of sea urchins across the world's oceans.^[3]

References

• Bourne DG, Boyett HV, Henderson ME, Muirhead A, Willis BL . Identification of a ciliate (Oligohymenophorea: Scuticociliatia) associated with brown band disease on corals of the Great Barrier Reef . Appl. Environ. Microbiol. . 74 . 3 . 883–8 . 2008 . 18083868 . 2227702 . 10.1128/AEM.01124-07 .
• Ramos MF, Costa AR, Barandela T, Saraiva A, Rodrigues PN . Scuticociliate infection and pathology in cultured turbot Scophthalmus maximus from the north of Portugal . Dis. Aquat. Org. . 74 . 3 . 249–53 . 2007 . 17465310 . 10.3354/dao074249 . free .

Notes and References

1. Pan . Mengmeng . Chen . Ying . Liang . Chengdong . Pan . Xuming . 2020-06-01 . Taxonomy and molecular phylogeny of three freshwater scuticociliates, with descriptions of one new genus and two new species (Protista, Ciliophora, Oligohymenophorea) . European Journal of Protistology . 74 . 125644 . 10.1016/j.ejop.2019.125644 . 0932-4739.
2. Book: Jung. Sung-Ju. Woo. Patrick T.K.. Woo. Patrick T.K.. Buchmann. Kurt. Fish parasites: pathobiology and protection. limited. 2012. CABI. Wallingford, Oxfordshire. 9781845938062. 73–91. Chapter 5: Miamiensis avidus and related species.
3. News: Cummings. Sean. May 28, 2024. Mysterious sea urchin plague is spreading through the world’s oceans. Science . June 17, 2024 .