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Increased pathogen exposure of a marine apex predator over three decades

PLoS ONE
By: , , , , , , , and 
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0310973

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Abstract

Environmental changes associated with global warming create new opportunities for pathogen and parasite transmission in Arctic wildlife. As an apex predator ranging over large, remote areas, changes in pathogens and parasites in polar bears are a useful indicator of changing transmission dynamics in Arctic ecosystems. We examined prevalence and risk factors associated with exposure to parasites and viral and bacterial pathogens in Chukchi Sea polar bears. Serum antibodies to six pathogens were detected and prevalence increased between 1987–1994 and 2008–2017 for five: Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum, Francisella tularensis, Brucella abortus/suis, and canine distemper virus. Although bears have increased summer land use, this behavior was not associated with increased exposure. Higher prevalence of F. tularensis, C. burnetii, and B. abortus/suis antibodies in females compared to males, however, could be associated with terrestrial denning. Exposure was related to diet for several pathogens indicating increased exposure in the food web. Elevated white blood cell counts suggest a possible immune response to some pathogens. Given that polar bears face multiple stressors in association with climate change and are a subsistence food, further work is warranted to screen for signs of disease.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Increased pathogen exposure of a marine apex predator over three decades
Series title PLoS ONE
DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0310973
Volume 19
Issue 10
Year Published 2024
Language English
Publisher PLOS
Contributing office(s) Alaska Science Center Ecosystems
Description e0310973, 23 p.
Country Russia, United States
State Alaska
Other Geospatial Chukchi Sea
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