Massive amounts of seaweed are washing up along South Florida beaches, which could carry the pathogens responsible for ‘leaky gut syndrome’.
Known as sargassum, once washed up on shore it is a nuisance as the thick brown seaweed coats the beaches, releasing a pungent odor as it decomposes and entangles humans and animals who enter it.
For hotels and resorts, cleaning beaches can amount to a 24-hour operation.
But algae also interact with plastic debris and Vibrio bacteria in the ocean, creating what scientists call a “pathogenic storm” that can pose risks to swimmers.
A recent study conducted by Florida Atlantic University found that Sargassum that ends up on beaches tends to harbor high levels of Vibrio bacteria.
Vibriosis infection can cause a range of symptoms including diarrhoea, stomach cramps and vomiting, fever, chills, ear infections and wound infections.
Huge amounts of seaweed are washing up on Florida beaches, potentially carrying pathogens that cause a condition known as “leaky gut syndrome.”
The algae reproduces on the surface of the water, aided by air-filled structures that give it buoyancy
Pictured is the cholera bacteria (Vibrio cholerae) which can cause leaky gut syndrome
Pathogens have a unique ability to adhere to microplastics in warm ocean water.
Researchers have found that the Vibrio bacterium has specific genes, known as ‘zot’ genes, which produce toxins that can damage the intestines, leading to a condition similar to ‘leaky gut syndrome’, where the bacterium can enter the intestine, get stuck in the intestines and cause infection.
If a fish consumes a piece of plastic contaminated with Vibrio bacteria, it can develop a leaky gut and release waste nutrients that stimulate the growth of Sargassum and other organisms in the surrounding environment.
There have been previous cases of Vibrio-related deaths linked to foodborne illnesses, such as after consuming raw oysters reports NBC Miami.
Reports indicate that as summer progresses, a huge mass of Sargassum seaweed that has formed in the Atlantic Ocean may be heading towards Florida shores.
Seaweed that washed up is seen on a beach in Key West, Florida
Toxic red tide algae mainly affected Florida’s southwest coast and forced some beaches to close earlier in the season
There are different strains of Vibrio, but some can cause fatal illnesses when eaten through seafood or through contact with open wounds.
The bacteria thrives in warm brackish seawater, making people with open wounds susceptible to exposure.
Researchers have found that certain strains of Vibrio target both plant and animal hosts.
The concern is that as more people come into contact with Sargassum seaweed and plastic marine debris increases during the summer months, the risks increase.
In an aerial view, sargassum seaweed covers the shoreline in Marathon, Florida
Sargassum, a naturally occurring type of macroalgae, is said to span more than 5,000 miles in the Atlantic Ocean
A leafy brown seaweed scalloped with what looks like berries, the seaweed floats on the open ocean and – unlike other seaweed – reproduces on the surface of the water
A beachgoer walks through the Sargassum that washed ashore earlier this month in Key West
In an aerial view, a boat crosses sargassum floating on the surface of the ocean in Marathon, Florida
A worker uses a front loader to remove seaweed from the beach in Key West, Florida
The flesh-eating Vibrio bacteria can colonize plastic debris, posing a potential risk to humans.
A leafy brown algae adorned with what look like berries, the algae floats in the open ocean and, unlike other algae, reproduces on the surface of the water, aided by air-filled structures that give it strength. buoyancy.
Sargassum is native to a large stretch of the Atlantic Ocean called the Sargasso Sea, which lies well off the southeastern United States. The Sargasso have no land borders; instead, four dominant ocean currents form its boundaries.
High levels of Sargassum in coastal waters have been observed in recent years. It is believed that climate change, rising sea temperatures are accelerating the reproduction of these algae
Florida’s southwest coast is seeing an upsurge in toxic red algae, raising fears it could linger for some time
Those expecting pristine beaches and clear blue seas may find their beaches covered in sargassum
Since 2011, there has been a rapid expansion of Sargassum populations in the Sargasso Sea and other parts of the open ocean, leading to unprecedented algal accumulation events on beaches, including those in the south. from Florida.
The state saw an increase in Vibrio cases in 2022 following Hurricane Ian when warm standing water may have allowed potentially deadly bacteria to grow.
Sargassum clusters serve as a habitat, food source, and breeding ground for various marine animals including fish, sea turtles, birds, etc. As it accumulates, it makes for a rather unpleasant experience for beachgoers.
Sargassum piles up on beaches where it quickly decomposes in the scorching sun, releasing gases that smell like rotten eggs.
In recent years, Sargassum has lined the beaches of some Caribbean islands and Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula in spring and summer.
Brief exposure isn’t enough to make people sick, but prolonged exposure – especially for people with respiratory problems – can be dangerous, scientists say.
This could be a problem for hotel workers and others who can spend hours removing rotting sargassum from beaches.
Left to rot on the beach, Sargassum can become a problem. It can harm coastal marine ecosystems and also promotes the growth of fecal bacteria.
