Macrophytes and their wrack as a habitat for faecal indicator bacteria and Vibrio in coastal marine environments

Waterborne pathogenic bacteria, including faecal indicator bacteria and potentially pathogenic Vibrio, are a global concern for diseases transmitted through water. A systematic review was conducted to analyse publications that investigated these bacteria in relation to macrophytes (seagrasses and macroalgae) in coastal marine environments. The highest quantities of FIB were found on brown algae and seagrasses, and the highest quantities of Vibrio bacteria were on red algae. The most extensively studied macrophyte group was brown algae, green algae were the least researched. Macrophyte wrack was found to favor the presence of FIB, but there is a lack of information about Vibrio quantities in this environment. To understand the role of Vibrio bacteria that are pathogenic to humans, molecular methods complementary to cultivation methods should be used. Further research is needed to understand the underlying mechanisms of FIB and potentially pathogenic Vibrio with macrophytes and their microbiome in the coastal marine environment.

Automated summary

Waterborne pathogenic bacteria, such as faecal indicator bacteria and potentially pathogenic Vibrio, pose a global concern for waterborne diseases. A systematic review found that brown algae and seagrasses had the highest quantities of faecal indicator bacteria, while red algae had the highest quantities of Vibrio bacteria. The research on macrophytes focused mainly on brown algae, with green algae being the least studied. Further research is needed to understand the role of potentially pathogenic Vibrio and faecal indicator bacteria with macrophytes and their microbiome in the coastal marine environment.