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The potential influence of microplastics on the microbiome and disease susceptibility in sea turtles

Vitória Bonfim Iurk1, Mariana Ingles2, Giovana Sequinel Correa3

  • 1Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação, Centro de Estudos do Mar, Universidade Federal do Paraná, PR 832555-000, Brazil; Laboratório de Microbiologia Ambiental, Departamento de Biologia Estrutural, Molecular e Genética, Setor de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Estadual de Ponta Grossa, PR 84030-000, Brazil.

The Science of the Total Environment
|June 29, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Microplastics harm sea turtle gut microbiomes, disrupting immune function and increasing disease risk. Interventions like probiotics may help restore gut health and boost immunity in affected turtles.

Area of Science:

  • Marine Biology
  • Microbiome Research
  • Environmental Toxicology

Background:

  • Microplastics (MPs) are pervasive marine contaminants.
  • Sea turtles ingest MPs, exposing their gut microbiome.
  • MP exposure can cause gut dysbiosis and increase disease susceptibility.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Review the effects of MP exposure on sea turtle gut microbiomes.
  • Explore the link between MP exposure and sea turtle disease.
  • Summarize current knowledge on MP impacts on marine animal health.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of existing studies on microplastics and sea turtle gut health.
  • Analysis of metabolic and genetic data related to gut microbiome function.
  • Exploration of disease links and potential therapeutic interventions.

Main Results:

  • MPs disrupt gut microbiome balance, altering essential metabolite production (e.g., SCFAs).
  • Altered gut microbiomes affect host gene expression, impacting gut integrity and immunity.
  • MP exposure increases susceptibility to opportunistic pathogens like ChAHV5, linked to fibropapillomatosis (FP).

Conclusions:

  • Gut microbiome disruption by MPs compromises sea turtle immune systems.
  • This vulnerability can lead to increased susceptibility to diseases like FP.
  • Dietary interventions and probiotics show promise for restoring gut health and immune function in sea turtles.
Keywords:
DysbiosisEpigeneticFibropapillomatosisImmune systemProbiotics

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