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Microplastics as Vectors for Pathogenic Microorganisms in Nun River, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.
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Researchers found that tiny plastic bits in Nigeria's Nun River aren't just pollution—they act like rafts for harmful bacteria, harboring up to a million times more disease-causing germs (including antibiotic-resistant ones) than the surrounding water or sediment. This matters because roughly 30 million people who fish, swim, or wade in this river could be exposed to these germ-covered plastics, raising their risk of infections that are harder to treat with normal antibiotics.
Microplastics (MPs) in aquatic environments form biofilms known as the plastisphere, potentially vectoring pathogenic microbes and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), exacerbating antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in vulnerable regions like the Niger Delta. This study assessed MP abundance, polymer composition, and biofilm colonization by priority pathogens (Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and ARGs in the Nun River across wet and dry seasons, evaluating community exposure risks and mitigation strategies. Surface water (n=36) and sediment (n=36) samples were collected seasonally at six locations along the Nun River between July 2024 and February 2025. MPs (0.3-5 mm) were extracted by density separation, quantified under the microscope, and characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Biofilms were detached by ultrasonication, with pathogens enumerated via selective cultivation and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), communities profiled by 16S rRNA metagenomics, and ARGs identified by shotgun sequencing (ResFinder). Data were analyzed using ANOVA, correlations, and PERMANOVA on R software. MP abundance increased downstream (15-162 particles/L water; 103-598 particles/kg sediment), peaking in dry-season waters, dominated by polyethylene/polypropylene fragments and fibres. Plastisphere alpha diversity exceeded bulk matrices (Shannon index 4.35 vs. 3.62), with 3-6 log higher pathogen loads (V. parahaemolyticus up to 7.1 × 106 copies/g; E. coli up to 8.9 × 107 copies/g) and 142 ARG subtypes (e.g., tetA/M 31.2%) on MPs versus surroundings. Correlations linked MPs to pathogen/ARG proliferation (r > 0.65). The Nun River MPs enhance the spread of ESKAPE pathogens and ARGs, with zoonotic risks to 30 million residents through seafood/flood contact. One Health interventions like MP traps and ARG surveillance are important to sustain the Nun River’s ecosystem.
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