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Can microplastics transfer Toxoplasma gondii parasites to marine foodwebs?
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This letter discusses whether tiny plastic particles in the ocean could carry Toxoplasma gondii, a parasite, to marine mammals like dolphins and whales. The author examines the possibility that micro-nanoplastics might act as vehicles for spreading this parasite through ocean food chains.
The present Letter to the Editor deals with the role of "micro-nanoplastics" as potential carriers of Toxoplasma gondii to "pelagic/offshore" cetacean (and fish) hosts.
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Tsunami-driven spread of Toxoplasma gondii and other microbial pathogens: Implications for cetacean health and conservation
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This review discusses how micro- and nanoplastics can serve as vectors for Toxoplasma gondii and other fecally transmitted pathogens in marine ecosystems, and argues that tsunamis and other extreme weather events may significantly amplify the offshore spread of these pathogens to cetacean populations.
Association of zoonotic protozoan parasites with microplastics in seawater and implications for human and wildlife health
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Researchers found that zoonotic protozoan parasites, including Cryptosporidium and Giardia, can associate with microplastics in seawater, suggesting that microplastics may serve as vectors for these pathogens. The study raises concerns that ingestion of parasite-laden microplastics by marine animals, including those consumed by humans, could pose risks to both wildlife and human health.
Effects of microplastics and nanoplastics on host–parasite interactions in aquatic environments
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Researchers reviewed how microplastics and nanoplastics affect the interactions between parasites and their hosts in aquatic environments. Evidence indicates that plastic particles can influence infection rates, parasite transmission, and host immune responses, though the effects vary widely depending on the species and type of plastic involved.
Association of Zoonotic Protozoan Parasites With Microplastics in Seawater: Implications for Human and Wildlife Health
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This study found that the human parasites Toxoplasma gondii, Cryptosporidium, and Giardia can adsorb to the surface of polyethylene microbeads and polyester microfibers. The discovery that microplastics can carry waterborne pathogens raises a new public health concern — that microplastic pollution in coastal waters may concentrate and transport disease-causing organisms that could infect both wildlife and humans.
Plastic pollution and parasitism: Impact of nanoplastics on the transmission of a marine trematode parasite
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A three-month experiment showed that nanoplastics at 20 mg/L reduced cercarial emergence and survival in a marine trematode parasite infecting snails and amphipods, suggesting high nanoplastic concentrations can disrupt parasite transmission dynamics in coastal marine ecosystems.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.