A trillion different bacteria live on the surface of human skin - this collection of microorganisms is called the microbiome, and it protects the body from the external effects of allergens and other external irritants. Sometimes this natural defense layer can break down, leaving people susceptible to infectious diseases. It turned out that sometimes the devastating effect awaits in the most unexpected places - researchers from the University of California at Irvine found that the human microbiome changes dramatically even after swimming in the ocean.
The discovery was made while monitoring the skin microbiome of nine volunteers. They each spent 10 minutes in ocean water, and the researchers analyzed their skin immediately after bathing and after 24 hours in the water. Scientists, led by Professor Marisa Nielsen, discovered strong changes in the microbiome in all nine people - it was restored to its original state only after a day, and throughout this time it could pass infections.
Swimming in the ocean leads to infectious diseases
The researchers were particularly puzzled by the fact that vibrios, bacteria from the Vibrionaceae family, which includes about 40 species, were found on the skin of all volunteers. Most of them are not pathogenic, but there are still dangerous species, and they may well persist on the human body and cause various diseases.
The most pathogenic species for humans are Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio vulnificus. The impact of the latter is the most fatal because it easily causes blood poisoning. As a rule, inhabitants of Africa often suffer from this species - the literature describes a case when people became infected with a bacterium after using water for domestic purposes, in which hippos were bathed.
Vibrios.
From everything written above, it follows that swimming in the ocean can be potentially more dangerous than being in seawater and even more so in a shower or bath. At the same time, scientists do not urge to completely beware of the oceans - the results of their research are simply a reminder that the water contains potentially dangerous bacteria.
Promotional video:
Swimming in the ocean is dangerous not only due to the presence of various bacteria, but also due to the presence of huge waves. At the beginning of 2019, the Japanese satellite Himawari-8 was able to record waves up to 17 meters high in the North Pacific Ocean.
Ramis Ganiev