#Texas prepares for war as invasion of #flesheating #flies appears imminent
In #Colombia, the #parasites were caught expanding into endangered wild mountain tapirs.
Texas Department of Agriculture announced the debut of TDA Swormlure, a synthetic bait designed to attract the flies with a scent that mimics open flesh wounds, which are critical to the lifecycle of the #fly, called the #NewWorldScrewworm.
https://arstechnica.com/health/2025/08/texas-prepares-for-war-as-invasion-of-flesh-eating-flies-appears-imminent/
Texas prepares for war as invasion of flesh-eating flies appears imminent

In Colombia, the parasites were caught expanding into endangered wild mountain tapirs.

Ars Technica
ā€œThey’re Melting Living Flesh in Hoursā€: Scientists Horrified as Swarm of Flesh-Eating Flies Begins Rapid Takeover of U.S. - Sustainability Times

IN A NUTSHELL 🐜 New World screwworm resurgence threatens livestock and human health in North and Central America. šŸŒ”ļø Possible causes include higher temperatures and flies adapting their behavior to avoid sterile males. 🚜 Eradication efforts focus on sterile insect technique and enhanced surveillance with international cooperation. šŸŒ Climate change complicates eradication plans, underscoring the

Sustainability Times

"The surprise discovery of flesh-eating #ulcers hundreds of kilometres from existing case clusters has sparked concerns it has become entrenched in another state.

Buruli ulcer has been known to occur in #Australia since the 1940s with cases noted in the #NorthernTerritory and #Queensland’s far north.

Researchers are intrigued by a surge in #Victoria, where a case is reported nearly every day, and its emergence in a southern #NSW coastal town."

#endemic
#fleshEating

https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/life/health/2024/12/18/buruli-ulcer-batemans-bay

Are Flesh-Eating Bacteria Hurricane’s Helene’s Parting Gift?

If hurricanes weren’t bringing enough misery, Florida’s warm, brackish waters are serving up ā€œflesh-eatingā€ bacteria. When storm surge meets seawater teeming with bacteria, disaster seems to breed, more disaster.

American Council on Science and Health

#Flesheating #bacterium cases hit record high in #Japan https://www.bangkokpost.com/world/2808935/-flesh-eating-bacterium-cases-hit-record-high-in-japan

KYODO - #Streptococcal toxic #shock #syndrome, a potentially deadly disease caused by a "flesh-eating" bacterium, is spreading rapidly in Japan, with cases in the first half of this year already surpassing last year's record, a national infectious disease institute said Tuesday.

ā€˜Flesh-eating’ bacterium cases hit record high in Japan

KYODO - Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome, a potentially deadly disease caused by a

https://www.bangkokpost.com
Clumps of 5,000-mile seaweed blob bring flesh-eating bacteria to Florida

Decomposing pieces of Great Atlantic sargassum belt carry Vibrio bacteria on state’s shoreline

The Guardian

#Vibrio Colonization Is Highly Dynamic in Early #Microplastic-Associated #Biofilms as Well as on Field-Collected #Microplastics

by Katharina Keys, et al, December 2020

Abstract:

"Microplastics are ubiquitous in aquatic ecosystems and provide a habitat for biofilm-forming bacteria. The genus Vibrio, which includes potential #pathogens, was detected irregularly on microplastics. Since then, the potential of microplastics to enrich (and serve as a vector for) Vibrio has been widely discussed. We investigated Vibrio abundance and operational taxonomic unit (OTU) composition on polyethylene and polystyrene within the first 10 h of colonization during an in situ incubation experiment, along with those found on particles collected from the Baltic Sea. We used 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and co-occurrence networks to elaborate the role of Vibrio within biofilms. Colonization of plastics with Vibrio was detectable after one hour of incubation; however, Vibrio numbers and composition were very dynamic, with a more stable population at the site with highest nutrients and lowest salinity. Likewise, Vibrio abundances on field-collected particles were variable but correlated with proximity to major cities. Vibrio was poorly connected within biofilm networks. Taken together, this indicates that Vibrio is an early colonizer of plastics, but that the process is undirected and independent of the specific surface. Still, higher nutrients could enhance a faster establishment of Vibrio populations. These parameters should be considered when planning studies investigating Vibrio on microplastics."

#NecrotisingFasciitis #FleshEating #bacteria #plastics #oceans #environment #pollution #seaweed #FleshEating #PublicHealth #wildlife #sea #ClimateChange #ClimateCrisis #Extinction #Oceans #Pollution

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33396691/

Vibrio Colonization Is Highly Dynamic in Early Microplastic-Associated Biofilms as Well as on Field-Collected Microplastics - PubMed

Microplastics are ubiquitous in aquatic ecosystems and provide a habitat for biofilm-forming bacteria. The genus <i>Vibrio</i>, which includes potential pathogens, was detected irregularly on microplastics. Since then, the potential of microplastics to enrich (and serve as a vector for) <i>Vibrio</i> …

PubMed

#Florida researchers find ā€˜high amounts’ of #FleshEating bacteria in #Sargassum

by Dylan Abad, May 30, 2023

"A new study from Florida Atlantic University is uncovering how the seaweed interacts with #plastic debris and Vibrio bacteria to create the 'perfect pathogen storm' for beachgoers and marine life.

"Samples collected by FAU revealed that Vibrio pathogens had harnessed the unique ability to 'stick' to #microplastics within the seaweed blob. The findings further showed that some #Vibrio bacteria had an ā€˜omnivorous’ lifestyle that targeted both plant and animal hosts.

"'Another interesting thing we discovered is a set of genes called ā€˜zot’ genes, which causes leaky gut syndrome,' said assistant professor Tracy Mincer, Ph.D.

"For instance, if a fish eats a piece of plastic and gets infected by this Vibrio, which then results in a leaky gut and diarrhea, it’s going to release waste nutrients such nitrogen and phosphate that could stimulate Sargassum growth and other surrounding organisms.

"Simply put, the combination of the bacteria and microplastics could be responsible, in part, for the rapid growth of Sargassum."

#ClimateChange #ClimateCrisis #Extinction #Oceans

https://www.wfla.com/news/florida/florida-researchers-find-high-amounts-of-flesh-eating-bacteria-in-sargassum/

Florida researchers find ā€˜high amounts’ of flesh-eating bacteria in Sargassum

A new study from Florida Atlantic University is uncovering how the seaweed interacts with plastic debris and Vibrio bacteria to create the ā€œperfect pathogen stormā€ for beachgoers and marine life.

WFLA

Clumps of 5,000-mile seaweed blob bring flesh-eating bacteria to Florida

Scientists are warning of life threatening piles of decomposing algae, with high levels of the flesh-eating #Vibrio #bacteria

Samples are abundant with #plastics which interacted with the algae & bacteria to create a perfect pathogen storm

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jun/03/sargassum-seaweed-algae-florida-bacteria-vibrio

#bacteria #plastics #oceans #environment #pollution #seaweed #FleshEating #PublicHealth #wildlife #sea

Clumps of 5,000-mile seaweed blob bring flesh-eating bacteria to Florida

Decomposing pieces of Great Atlantic sargassum belt carry Vibrio bacteria on state’s shoreline

The Guardian