Rare flesh-eating parasite kills four otters and could spread to humans trends now
A rare flesh-eating parasite has killed four otters in California for the first time, with scientists warning the disease could jump to humans.
The otters all suffered what scientists called the worst lesions on their bodies that they had seen in more than two-and-a-half decades of research.
Each had caught a previously unknown strain of toxoplasma gondii, a parasitic infection linked to miscarriage, seizures and brain inflammation in humans.
They now fear the parasite may be lurking in oysters, clams, mussels and crabs and could infect humans if these are undercooked.
It is particularly dangerous because, unlike most other diseases, it is capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier to cause infection.
The four sea otters were each infected with a previously unknown strain of the parasite toxoplasma gondii. Each had the worst lesions on their bodies scientists had seen (stock image)
Dr Karen Shaprio, a pathologist at the University of California, Davis, raised the alarm over the new threat.
‘Because this parasite can infect humans and other animals, we want others to be aware of our findings, quickly recognize cases and, if they encounter them, take precautions to prevent infection,' she said.
‘We are reporting our preliminary findings to alert others about this concerning condition.
‘Since toxoplasma can infect any warm-blooded animal, it could also potentially cause disease in animals and humans that share the same environment or food resources.’
The four sea otters were found stranded between February 2020 and March 2022.
Three of the four were females who lived within six miles of each other in San Luis Obispo county, which is between San Francisco and Los Angeles, while the other was an immature male in Santa Cruz County, just outside the Bay Area.
Genetic testing revealed they had been infected with a previously undetected
