American scientists from the University of Maryland discovered several pathogenic species of vibrio in the waters of Lee County in Florida. They first appeared there in September 2022, after the passage of powerful Hurricane Ian. The study was published in the scientific journal magazine ASM Journals.
The samples collected revealed the presence of two microorganisms of particular concern: Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio vulnificus.
“We were very surprised when we were able to detect these pathogens without any difficulty,” said senior study author Rita Colwell.
Vibrio bacteria are found in the oceans, where they live in symbiosis with crustaceans, zooplankton and bivalves. When the bacteria comes into contact with humans, some strains can cause an infection known as vibriosis, but side effects depend on the type of vibrio and the severity of the infection.
V. parahaemolyticus can cause gastroenteritis and wound inflammation, while V. vulnificus can cause necrotizing fasciitis, a flesh-eating infection with a 20% mortality rate.
According to the Florida Department of Health, Lee County has reported 38 cases of vibriosis, 11 of which resulted in death.
People can become infected with vibriosis by eating raw or undercooked seafood or by getting seawater into an open wound. Because Vibrio thrives in warm, salty water, hurricanes and floods can increase the likelihood of transmission to humans. During and after Hurricane Ian, a number of conditions supported the growth of Vibrio, including rainfall, changes in sea surface temperatures and ocean chlorophyll concentrations.
“Warming oceans are expected to lead to wetter and stronger storms like Ian, and coastal communities may face more vibrio infections in the future,” Rita Colwell added.
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