Word: bacterias
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: during 1990-1999
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
...With a single toss of his net, Goodall had pulled up 14 perky-looking menhaden, a finger-length bait fish native to Maryland's Eastern Shore. But on closer inspection, all except one of the fish turned out to have ugly red-brown lesions across their silvery skin, where bacteria were literally eating them alive. "It's just horrific," said Goodall, wearing rubber gloves as he sorted through the infected fish. "And it doesn't look like it's slowing down...
King's Creek is one of three Chesapeake Bay tributaries Maryland has closed in the wake of an alarming outbreak of deadly waterborne bacteria. Along with thousands of fish killed and infected, as many as 28 people who have come into contact with the water have developed symptoms including skin rashes, respiratory problems and memory loss. The culprit appears to be an obscure microbe called Pfiesteria piscicida, which under certain circumstances turns toxic. Though the precise trigger remains unclear, suspicion has fallen on agricultural runoffs, particularly from the region's numerous chicken farms. In addition to closing waterways, Governor Parris...
Scientists say it is too soon to know why these Pfiesteria became toxic, but most suspect "nutrient loading," that is, an excess of nutrition pouring into the waters in which the bacteria live. The nutrients could come from many sources, including sewage- treatment plants. But in an area that is home to about 600 million chickens (outnumbering humans about 500 to 1), poultry is the leading suspect. Chicken manure is commonly used as fertilizer on farmlands around the affected waterways. Environmentalists say when it runs off into the water, it brings excessive levels of nitrogen. They have called for restrictions...
AQUARIUS: Dive into the Charles, just like me. But try to avoid the bacteria...
FOUL FISH Think farmed fish must be safe? Don't bet on it. Prior to cooking, the popular farmed fish tilapia, also called St. Peter's fish, may harbor strep bacteria on its skin that can cause severe swelling of the hands, fever or complications like meningitis...