@article{fdi:010096034,
  title = {{M}arine plastic debris as a reservoir and vector of antibiotic-resistant pathogens : evidence of transmission to sea turtles in the {S}outhwest {I}ndian {O}cean},
  author = {{J}ourand, {P}hilippe and {P}hilippe, {A}. and {C}arret, {L}. and {M}outoucomarapoule, {S}. and {C}respel, {C}. and {L}eon, {L}. and {S}ababadichetty, {L}. and {T}hibault, {M}. and {M}ajorel, {C}larisse and {G}uilhaumon, {F}ran{\c{c}}ois and {L}enoble, {V}. and {J}ean, {C}. and {C}iccione, {S}. and {B}arret, {M}. and {S}chneider, {F}. and {M}iltgen, {G}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{M}arine plastic debris provides a novel substrate for microbial colonization, potentially facilitating the spread of pathogens in marine environments. {A}t {R}eunion {I}sland ({S}outhwest {I}ndian {O}cean), injured sea turtles undergoing rehabilitation at the {K}elonia center were found to harbor antibiotic-resistant pathogenic bacteria. {W}e hypothesized that these bacteria were originated from plastic debris present in the seawater pumping system. {T}o investigate this, we isolated and characterized culturable bacteria from plastic fragments, seawater, and turtles. {B}acterial identification was performed using 16{S} r{DNA} sanger sequencing, and multilocus phylogenetic analyses were conducted to assess genetic relatedness among isolates. {A}ntimicrobial susceptibility testing ({AST}) was also carried out. {P}lastic debris, primarily composed of polypropylene and polyethylene, supported dense bacterial communities (105-107{CFU}/g), in contrast to seawater which contained significantly lower loads (up to 103 {CFU}/ ml). {A}mong the potentially pathogenic bacteria, {E}nterococcus (22 %), {V}ibrio (16 %), {B}acillus (16 %), {S}taphylococcus (9 %), and {C}itrobacter (6 %) were the most prevalent. {P}hylogenetic analyses revealed close relationships between strains from plastics and turtles, particularly for {B}acillus, {C}itrobacter, and {E}nterococcus. {N}otably, {V}ibrio strains were undetected from seawater but detected on plastics and in turtles, suggesting a possible transmission route. {P}henotypic antibiotic resistances, mainly to beta-lactams, were detected in 30 % of plastic-associated strains and 14 % of turtle strains. {O}ur results suggest that plastic debris serve as a reservoir and vector for antimicrobial-resistant pathogens, potentially compromising turtle rehabilitation efforts. {T}his potential transmission pathway may hinder the treatment of infected or injured turtles, posing a significant challenge to the conservation of these endangered species.},
  keywords = {{M}arine plastic debris ; {A}ntibiotic resistance ; {P}athogen transmission ; {S}ea turtles ; {S}outhwest {I}ndian {O}cean ; {REUNION} ; {OCEAN} {INDIEN}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{M}arine {E}nvironmental {R}esearch},
  volume = {215},
  numero = {},
  pages = {107822 [13 p.]},
  ISSN = {0141-1136},
  year = {2026},
  DOI = {10.1016/j.marenvres.2025.107822},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010096034},
}