USA Today: Deadly Pathogens Can Hitch a Ride on Ocean Microplastics, Raising Alarm Bells
- Parasites
- Toxoplasmosis
- Ocean trash
Deadly pathogens can hitch a ride on ocean microplastics, raising alarm bells
Published in USA Today: April 28, 2022
A novel experiment in a veterinary lab found deadly pathogens could be catching a ride on microplastics washing out to sea, concentrating the bugs and potentially putting humans and animals like sea otters, seals and dolphins at risk.
The pathogens, Toxoplasma gondii, Cryptosporidium parvum and Giardia enterica, end up in waterways when feces from infected animals contaminate the water.
In the study, published this week in the journal Scientific Reports, scientists at the University of California, Davis showed microplastics can provide a new way for these microorganisms to concentrate near coastlines and travel deep into the sea.
Yes, I want to save a life!
You’ll be giving sick and injured animals the best possible care at the Center’s state-of-the-art hospital. With your gift today, you are giving a patient a second chance at life in the wild.
See Our Latest News
{"image":"\/Animals\/Patients\/California sea lions\/2024\/d-california-sea-lionsin-treatment-for-domoic-acidsausalito72624photo-by-giancarlo-rulli-c-the-marine-mammal-center.jpg","alt":"California sea lions","title":"SF GATE: Sick, disoriented sea lions are washing up on California beaches","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/sf-gate-sick-disoriented-sea-lions-are-washing-up-on-california-beaches","label":"In the News","date":"2026-09-01 10:39:22"}
SF GATE: Sick, disoriented sea lions are washing up on California beaches
September 1, 2026
Read More{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Sea otter\/cropped-images\/sea-otter-shutterstock-118-0-2496-1950-1604015482.jpg","alt":"sea otter eating clams","title":"What Do Sea Otters Eat? And Other Otter Trivia","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/what-do-sea-otters-eat-and-other-otter-trivia","label":"News Update","date":"2026-09-01 02:00:00"}
{"image":"\/People\/Action\/Volunteers\/h-california-sea-lion-transportdomoic-acidslo-countydomoic-acid80524photo-by-giancarlo-rulli-c-the-marine-mammal-center.jpg","alt":"Volunteers transporting a California sea lion","title":"An Update on Domoic Acid Poisoning on the California Coast","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/an-update-on-domoic-acid-poisoning-on-the-california-coast","label":"News Update","date":"2026-08-28 02:00:00"}
{"image":"\/Places\/Sausalito\/cropped-images\/sausalito-front-view-by-dan-friedman-c-the-marine-mammal-center-894-0-2040-1466-1601846127.jpg","alt":"front view of The Marine Mammal Center","title":"Explore The Marine Mammal Center\u2019s Exhibits","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/explore-the-marine-mammal-centers-exhibits","label":"In the News","date":"2026-08-26 02:00:00"}
