For the first time, researchers have found a virulent human infection in Antarctic wildlife. Fur seal pups on one island are carrying a nasty strain of the bacterium E. coli that causes severe diarrhoea in humans and domestic animals.
The commits countries to the “comprehensive protection” of the environment, but there are fears that visitors are introducing foreign organisms. Pathogens are a particular worry as many Antarctic creatures breed in colonies, where disease would spread rapidly.
Jorge Hernandez and colleagues at the University of Kalmar in Sweden discovered the E. coli strain in faecal swabs from fur seal pups near the Chilean research station on Livingston Island (Polar Biology, ). The bug has never before been found in seals. The same team has also found strains of Salmonella and Campylobacter that cause less virulent human gut infections in wildlife near science stations.
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Meanwhile, specially equipped vacuum cleaners are to be used in the coming Antarctic summer to sweep visitors’ clothing for bigger invaders such as insect eggs.
