Microplastics may be dragging fecal parasites from land to sea

To Carissa won

The three disease-causing parasites found in cat and human feces can hitchhike microplastics to reach the ocean, causing disease to marine life.

We already know that colonies of water-loving bacteria, viruses, and parasites can attach to microplastics (plastic particles less than 5 millimeters in diameter), but terrestrial parasites hitchhike plastic particles in seawater. This is the first time to do it.

“For the first time we have shown that terrestrial animal dung and parasites from human dung, which are known to infect humans and animals, can actually adhere to these plastics. That’s it. Plastics are really pretty good. ” Karen Shapiro At Hawaii University.

Shapiro and her colleagues first put a microplastic containing both spherical microbeads and long microfibers in seawater for 14 days to grow a sticky layer of bacteria on the surface, “Plastisphere“.

“Plastic spheres form a sticky, sticky material blanket where things can be physically trapped, much like how fly removal works,” says Shapiro.

The microplastics were then placed in a beaker containing either seawater alone or seawater contaminated with one of the three terrestrial parasites. Toxoplasma protozoan, Cryptosporidium parvum, When Giardia Enterica..

In people, T. Gondy It can cause flu-like symptoms such as fatigue and muscle aches. Parasites are also involved in the death of marine mammals such as sea otters, dolphins and seals. in the meantime, C. small When G. Enterica It is known to cause fatal bowel problems in infants and children with a depressed immune system.

By taking pictures of the samples over a seven-day period, researchers discovered that the parasites migrated from seawater to microplastics. From day one, more than 10 times more parasites in 1 milliliter of seawater were found in 1 gram of microbeads. For microfiber, the number of parasites per gram of plastic was at least 1000 times that of 1 milliliter of seawater.

“I don’t know why microfiber attracts more parasites. [compared to microbeads]However, they make up the majority of microplastics. This means that this can have really significant consequences, “says Shapiro.

The findings show that the amount of plastic used is reduced and water treatment systems are installed. Capture plastic contaminantsSays Shapiro.

“This paper provides further evidence that microplastics may be associated with harmful pathogens, including those that cause serious illness in humans.” Alice Houghton At the National Oceanographic Center in the United Kingdom.

“Microplastics and three serious intersections [parasites] In seawater, we need to signal danger to everyone, from beach goers to wildlife conservationists. ” Mary Donahue At Hawaii University, where I wasn’t involved in work.

Researchers now want to investigate whether parasites attached to microplastics in our waterways can really hitchhike to the ocean, cross the ocean, and infect marine life.

“Working in the laboratory is important for understanding the process in a controlled environment, but ultimately it is necessary to investigate the relationship between marine plastics of all sizes and these diseases in real conditions. It will be, “says Donohue.

Journal reference: Scientific Reports, DOI: 10.1038 / s41598-022-10485-5

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