Could tourist boots act as vectors for disease transmission in Antarctica

摘要: Background: Over the last decade there has been a rapid increase in number of visitors landing at wildlife sites on Antarctic continent, and concern raised that tourists may transmit important pathogens to or between colonies. The aim this study was determine if tourist activities pose potential threat wildlife, possibly human populations through carriage boots. Methods: In two trips conducted Antarctica summer season 2000/2001, swabs were collected from boots: prior landing, baseline level bacterial flora boots (A isolates); immediately return ship, quantify contamination (B after washed seawater recovery organisms cleaning (C isolates). Swabs cultured for coliforms, isolates identified using API system. Results: Twenty resembling coliforms isolated 15 72 pairs Two recovered group A, 4 B, 14 C. Of these 20 isolates, 11 could be identification method. remaining 9 all produced an unknown but identical profile number. Conclusion: These results indicate current practices visiting colonies not sufficient prevent transmission pathogens, further studies are needed define best method disinfection.