The first records of Sea Star Wasting Disease in Crossaster papposus in Europe

Sea Star Wasting Disease (SSWD) refers to a suite of gross pathological
signs observed in Asteroidea species. It presents to varying degrees as
abnormal posture, epidermal ulceration, arm autotomy and eversion of
viscera. We report observations of SSWD in the sunstar Crossaster
papposus, the first observations of its kind in Europe. While the exact
cause of SSWD remains unknown, studies have proposed pathogenic and
environmental-stress pathways for disease outbreaks. Although the present
observations do not support a precise aetiology, the presence of SSWD in a
keystone predator may have wide reaching ecological and management
implications.