{"id":2178325,"date":"2024-11-07T12:00:17","date_gmt":"2024-11-07T11:00:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/?p=2178325"},"modified":"2026-02-28T18:35:31","modified_gmt":"2026-02-28T17:35:31","slug":"polar-bears-at-higher-risk-of-contracting-some-pathogens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/polar-bears-at-higher-risk-of-contracting-some-pathogens\/","title":{"rendered":"Polar Bears at Higher Risk of Contracting Some Pathogens"},"content":{"rendered":"

As the environment warms, polar bears are more likely to contract several pathogens than they were three decades ago.<\/p>\n

In a study published in PLOS ONE, researchers looked for antibodies for six pathogens in blood samples taken from polar bears in the Chukchi Sea from 1987-1994 and from 2008-2017.<\/p>\n

They found that five of the pathogens were more prevalent in the samples taken in the later years.<\/p>\n

These included the parasites that cause toxoplasmosis and neosporosis, the bacteria that causes rabbit fever and brucellosis, and the canine distemper virus.<\/p>\n

The team also found that exposure varied with diet and was higher in females than males.<\/p>\n

They suspect the higher risk in females is due to pregnant bears denning on land to raise cubs, where they\u2019re exposed to more pathogens.<\/p>\n

This article<\/a> was first published by The Wildlife Society on 30 October 2024. Lead Image: Polar bears are more likely to contract some pathogens than they were three decades ago. Credit: Alaska Science Center.<\/i><\/p>\n

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