Association of zoonotic protozoan parasites with microplastics in seawater and implications for human and wildlife health.

ABSTRACT: Plastics are widely recognized as a pervasive marine pollutant. Microplastics have been garnering increasing attention due to reports documenting their ingestion by animals, including those intended for human consumption. Their accumulation in the marine food chain may also pose a threat to wildlife that consume species that can accumulate microplastic particles. Microplastic contamination in marine ecosystems has thus raised concerns for both human and wildlife health. Our study addresses an unexplored area of research targeting the interaction between plastic and pathogen pollution of coastal waters. We investigated the association of the zoonotic protozoan parasites Toxoplasma gondii, Cryptosporidium parvum, and Giardia enterica with polyethylene microbeads and polyester microfibers. Th

SUBMITTER: Zhang E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9042925 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature