Seaweed that washes up in Florida has large amounts of MEAT-EATING bacteria leaky gut syndrome
Massive amounts of seaweed are washing up on South Florida beaches, potentially carrying carnivorous pathogens.
Known as Sargassum, once the seaweed washes up it’s a nuisance because the thick, brown algae carpets beaches, giving off a pungent odor as it decays and ensnaring people and animals who step into it.
For hotels and resorts, cleaning up the stuff from beaches can amount to a 24-hour operation.
But the seaweed also interacts with plastic waste and Vibrio bacteria in the ocean, creating what scientists call a “disease-producing storm” that could pose risks to beachgoers.
The biggest threat from the Vibrio bacteria is a condition called “leaky gut syndrome.”
A recent study conducted by Florida Atlantic University found that Sargassum that ends up on beaches tends to contain high levels of Vibrio bacteria.
Infection with vibriosis can cause a variety of symptoms, including diarrhea, stomach cramps, vomiting, fever, chills, ear infections, and wound infections.
Massive amounts of seaweed wash up on Florida beaches, possibly carrying pathogens causing a condition known as “leaky gut syndrome”
The seaweed, called Sargassum, reproduces on the surface of the water, aided by air-filled structures that give it buoyancy
Pictured is the Cholera bacteria (Vibrio cholerae) that can cause leaky gut syndrome and was found in high concentrations in Sargassum
The pathogens have a unique ability to attach to microplastics in the warm ocean water.
Researchers found that the Vibrio bacteria possesses specific genes, known as “fool” genes, that produce toxins that can damage the gut, resulting in a condition similar to “leaky gut syndrome,” where the bacteria can enter the gut , 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 encourage the growth of Sargassum and other organisms in the environment.
There are already known cases of Vibrio-related deaths linked to foodborne illness, such as after consuming raw oyster reports NBCMiami.
Reports indicate that as summer progresses, a huge clump of sargassum seaweed, which formed in the Atlantic Ocean, may be heading for Florida’s shores
Seaweed washed up on a beach in Key West, Florida, as researchers warn of the growing risk
The toxic red tide algae has particularly affected Florida’s southwest coast and has forced some beaches to close earlier in the season
There are several Vibrio species, but some can cause life-threatening illness when consumed through seafood or contact with open wounds.
The bacteria thrives in warm brackish seawater, making people with open wounds susceptible to exposure.
Researchers found that some Vibrio species target both plants and animals.
The concern is that as more people come into contact with the Sargassum seaweed and plastic marine litter increases during the summer months, the risks increase.
In an aerial view, Sargassum seaweed covers the shoreline in Marathon, Florida
A beachgoer walks through Sargassum that washed up in Key West earlier this month
In an aerial view, a boat passes Sargassum, floating on the surface of the ocean in Marathon, Florida
A worker uses a front loader to remove seaweed from a beach in Key West, Florida
The flesh-eating Vibrio bacteria can colonize on plastic waste, posing a potential risk to humans.
A leafy brown seaweed adorned with what appear to be berries, the seaweed floats on the open ocean and – unlike other seaweeds – reproduces on the surface of the water, aided by air-filled structures that give it buoyancy.
Sargassum originates in a vast stretch of the Atlantic Ocean called the Sargasso Sea, which is located far southeast of the US. The Sargasso has no land borders; instead, four prevailing ocean currents form its boundaries.
High levels of Sargassum have been observed in coastal waters in recent years. It is believed that climate change, the increase in sea temperature, accelerates the reproduction of these seaweeds
Florida’s southwest coast is experiencing a flare-up of the toxic red tide algae, raising concerns it could stick around for a while
The state saw an increase in Vibrio cases in 2022 after Hurricane Ian, when warm standing water allowed the potentially deadly bacteria to grow.
Since 2011, there has also been a rapid expansion of Sargassum populations in the Sargasso Sea and other parts of the open ocean, leading to unprecedented seaweed accumulation on beaches, including those in South Florida.
The Sargassum Clusters serve as a habitat, food source, and breeding ground for various marine animals, including fish, sea turtles, birds, and more. As it builds up, it’s a rather unpleasant experience for beachgoers.
Sargassum accumulates on beaches, where it quickly decomposes under the hot sun, releasing gases that smell like rotten eggs.
In recent years, Sargassum has carpeted the beaches of some Caribbean islands and Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula during the spring and summer months.
Brief exposure isn’t enough to make people sick, but long-term exposure — especially for people with respiratory problems — can be dangerous, scientists say.
It can be a problem for hotel workers and others who spend hours removing decomposing Sargassum from beaches.
If Sargassum is rotting on the beach, it could become a problem. It can harm marine coastal ecosystems and also supports the growth of fecal bacteria.