Skip to content

Health

Pathogens find new hosts as Arctic ice melts

by Julie Cook 01 Mar 2014
Pathogens find new hosts as Arctic ice melts

Belugas troubled by the common cat parasite? The Arctic ice has held back a flow of pathogens for thousands of years. Now we may have to suffer further consequences of global warming; Beluga image. Credit: © NOAA

A well-documented effect and concern stemming from climate change is that of melting Arctic ice. Environmentalists have long lamented over the potential of rising sea levels and water temperature as well as the reduced sunlight reflection that the ice provides. Unfortunately, another concern can now be added to this list: that of increased parasites in marine mammals.

The Arctic ice serves many regulatory functions but one that often goes unnoticed is as a barrier to various parasites. In a recent study, beluga whales have now been observed as carriers of the infamous cat parasite Toxoplasma gondii, also known as the kitty litter disease. This is a concern not only for the health of the whale population, but also that of the Inuit people. As one of the authors of the study, Stephen Raverty, notes, the gravity of this situation is that this is now a risk to their food safety as well as to their culture which is based heavily on the belugas.

These findings were presented at the 2014 Annual Meeting of the American Association of the Advancement of Science by Steven Raverty (a veterinary pathologist) and Michael Grigg (a molecular parasitologist), and were met with alarm from the ecological community. They mention that they are currently unsure just how the parasite made the leap to the whales, but they do recognize that the lack of ice was a contributing factor. Toxoplasma gondii is a particularly resistant pathogen, able to withstand even bleach but is often killed by either boiling or freezing water. As the frozen ice retreats, Toxoplasma can now expand to new warm-blooded hosts.

Sadly, this is not the only pathogen-marine mammal relationship that has developed due to the melting Arctic ice. Gray seals have recently been dying off by the hundreds as a result of the Sarcocystis pinnipedi parasite which wreaks havoc on the livers of these seals.

This is a parasite that is already found in some species of seal like the ring seal. This seal species depends on the ice for rearing their young, and therefore live at higher latitudes than the grey seals but appear to be relatively unaffected by the parasite. Thus, in a move opposite of the Toxoplasma parasite, Sarcocystis is moving from North to South as the habitats of the seals now overlap due to the decrease in ice. Previously, this was not an issue as grey seals had restricted contact with ring seals because of the ecological barrier of the ice.

This discovery when coupled with the loss of ice habitat for marine mammals is a serious ecological concern. Many of these mammals are keystone species, their positions near the top of the food chain maintaining the balance of all the species below them. While the observation of these parasites brings to light the wonderful intricacy and complexity of the ecological system, it also highlights the need for preservation and reconsideration of our current environmental trajectory.

There's more on this AAAS. news in Chicago from Steven Raverty and Michael Grigg with an introduction from Carla Schaffer.


Trending Eco-Friendly Clothing

Love My Planet Women's Relaxed Fit Hoodie
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Love My Planet Women's Relaxed Fit Hoodie
Love My Planet women's eco-friendly relaxed fit hoodieSize Guide Centimeters 8 10 12 14 16 18 Bust 84 88 92 97 103 108 Waist 66 70 75 80 85 91 Hips 91 95 99 104 109 116 Bust: Measure around the fullest part of...
£38.00
£38.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Penguins Hate Push-Ups Men's Pullover Hoodie
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Penguins Hate Push-Ups Men's Pullover Hoodie
Penguins Hate Push-Ups men's eco-friendly pullover HoodieSize Guide Centimeters XS S M L XL XXL Height 171 175 179 183 189 195 Chest 86 93 99 104 116 129 Waist 71 76 81 89 99 112 Chest: Measure all round your chest just below...
£38.00
£38.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Lightning Bolt Kids Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Notify me
Lightning Bolt Kids Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Lightning Bolt kids eco-friendly long sleeve t-shirtSize Guide Centimeters 3-4yrs 5-6yrs 7-8yrs 9-10yrs 11-12yrs Height 98 112 125 136 147 Chest 60 66 70 75 84 Chest: Measure all around your chest just below your armpits. Height: Your natural height If you fall between...
£18.00
£18.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Notify me
Union Jack Tote Bag
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Union Jack Tote Bag
Union Jack eco-friendly colour tote bagProduct Specification Organic Cotton Tote Bag. Twill Weave (170gsm). 37 x 42 cm (7cm gusset.) Made in India / Designed on the Isle of Wight. Wash Cool, Hang Dry.
£16.00
£16.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Prev Post
Next Post

Eco-Friendly Shop

Women's Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothing for Women Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable women’s clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies, vests, sweaters, shorts, and...
Shop Now

Men's Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothing for Men Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable men’s clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies, vests, sweaters, shorts, and...
Shop Now

Kids Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothes for Kids Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable kids clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies and jumpers. Our garments...
Shop Now
Someone recently bought a
[time] ago, from [location]

Thanks for subscribing!

This email has been registered!

Shop the look

Choose Options

Earth Times
Sign up for exclusive updates, new arrivals & insider only discounts

Recently Viewed

Edit Option
Back In Stock Notification
this is just a warning
Login
Shopping Cart
0 items

Before you leave...

Take 20% off your first order

20% off

Enter the code below at checkout to get 20% off your first order

CODESALE20

Continue Shopping