Ciencia

4 de agosto de 2025

Resumen

Investigadores han identificado a Vibrio pectenicida como la bacteria responsable de la enfermedad de desgaste en estrellas de mar que ha diezmado poblaciones a lo largo de la costa del Pacífico desde 2013.

Desde 2013, las poblaciones de estrellas de mar a lo largo de la costa del Pacífico, desde México hasta Alaska, han sufrido mortandades masivas debido a una misteriosa enfermedad de desgaste. Investigaciones recientes han identificado a la bacteria Vibrio pectenicida como la causa de esta epidemia.

La enfermedad, conocida como síndrome de desgaste en estrellas de mar, provoca lesiones, desprendimiento de extremidades y eventual desintegración de las estrellas de mar. La estrella de mar girasol (Pycnopodia helianthoides) ha sido particularmente afectada, con más del 90% de su población perdida en los primeros cinco años del brote.

Investigadores de la Universidad de Washington, el Instituto Hakai y la Universidad de British Columbia realizaron un estudio de cuatro años para identificar el patógeno. Encontraron altos niveles de V. pectenicida en el fluido celómico —el fluido interno que rodea los órganos de las estrellas de mar— de individuos enfermos. Experimentos de laboratorio confirmaron que la introducción de esta bacteria en estrellas de mar sanas inducía la enfermedad, llevando a una rápida mortalidad.

El declive de las estrellas de mar ha tenido consecuencias ecológicas significativas. Las estrellas de mar girasol son depredadores clave de los erizos de mar; su pérdida ha provocado poblaciones descontroladas de erizos, resultando en la destrucción de los bosques de algas kelp que proporcionan hábitat para numerosas especies marinas.

Identificar la causa bacteriana de la enfermedad de desgaste en estrellas de mar es un paso crucial para desarrollar estrategias de conservación. Los esfuerzos potenciales incluyen la cría de estrellas de mar en cautiverio, la exploración de inmunidad natural y el desarrollo de tratamientos como probióticos para fortalecer la resiliencia de las estrellas de mar.

Fuente

vox.com

Verificación de hechos

Verifique los hechos del artículo utilizando fuentes y bases de datos externas.

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Confirmed

Since 2013, sea star populations along the Pacific coast from Mexico to Alaska have suffered massive die-offs due to a mysterious wasting disease.

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Confirmed

Recent research has identified the bacterium Vibrio pectenicida as the cause of this epidemic.

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Confirmed

The disease, known as sea star wasting syndrome, leads to lesions, limb detachment, and eventual disintegration of the sea stars.

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Confirmed

The sunflower sea star (Pycnopodia helianthoides) has been particularly affected, with over 90% of its population lost within the first five years of the outbreak.

✓

Confirmed

Researchers from the University of Washington, the Hakai Institute, and the University of British Columbia conducted a four-year study to identify the pathogen.

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Confirmed

They found high levels of V. pectenicida in the coelomic fluid—the internal fluid surrounding sea star organs—of diseased individuals.

✓

Confirmed

Laboratory experiments confirmed that introducing this bacterium to healthy sea stars induced the disease, leading to rapid mortality.

✓

Confirmed

The decline of sea stars has had significant ecological consequences. Sunflower sea stars are key predators of sea urchins; their loss has led to unchecked urchin populations, resulting in the destruction of kelp forests that provide habitat for numerous marine species.

Científicos Identifican la Causa Bacteriana de la Enfermedad de Desgaste en Estrellas de Mar

Fuente

Verificación de hechos

Since 2013, sea star populations along the Pacific coast from Mexico to Alaska have suffered massive die-offs due to a mysterious wasting disease.

Recent research has identified the bacterium Vibrio pectenicida as the cause of this epidemic.

The disease, known as sea star wasting syndrome, leads to lesions, limb detachment, and eventual disintegration of the sea stars.

The sunflower sea star (Pycnopodia helianthoides) has been particularly affected, with over 90% of its population lost within the first five years of the outbreak.

Researchers from the University of Washington, the Hakai Institute, and the University of British Columbia conducted a four-year study to identify the pathogen.

They found high levels of V. pectenicida in the coelomic fluid—the internal fluid surrounding sea star organs—of diseased individuals.

Laboratory experiments confirmed that introducing this bacterium to healthy sea stars induced the disease, leading to rapid mortality.

The decline of sea stars has had significant ecological consequences. Sunflower sea stars are key predators of sea urchins; their loss has led to unchecked urchin populations, resulting in the destruction of kelp forests that provide habitat for numerous marine species.

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Fuente

Verificación de hechos

Since 2013, sea star populations along the Pacific coast from Mexico to Alaska have suffered massive die-offs due to a mysterious wasting disease.

Recent research has identified the bacterium *Vibrio pectenicida* as the cause of this epidemic.

The disease, known as sea star wasting syndrome, leads to lesions, limb detachment, and eventual disintegration of the sea stars.

The sunflower sea star (*Pycnopodia helianthoides*) has been particularly affected, with over 90% of its population lost within the first five years of the outbreak.

Researchers from the University of Washington, the Hakai Institute, and the University of British Columbia conducted a four-year study to identify the pathogen.

They found high levels of *V. pectenicida* in the coelomic fluid—the internal fluid surrounding sea star organs—of diseased individuals.

Laboratory experiments confirmed that introducing this bacterium to healthy sea stars induced the disease, leading to rapid mortality.

The decline of sea stars has had significant ecological consequences. Sunflower sea stars are key predators of sea urchins; their loss has led to unchecked urchin populations, resulting in the destruction of kelp forests that provide habitat for numerous marine species.

Sigue leyendo, gratis

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Credibilidad

Recent research has identified the bacterium Vibrio pectenicida as the cause of this epidemic.

The sunflower sea star (Pycnopodia helianthoides) has been particularly affected, with over 90% of its population lost within the first five years of the outbreak.

They found high levels of V. pectenicida in the coelomic fluid—the internal fluid surrounding sea star organs—of diseased individuals.