Soil is host to different kinds of bacteria. And while some are helpful
because they help recycle natural elements and compounds, make the soil rich
and fertile, and speed up decomposition, living alongside them are the
pathogenic kinds. Because bacteria are not visible to the naked eyes, we won’t
know if the soil in our garden or in our yard is teeming with them. Perhaps
this the reason why parents don’t want their children to play in the mud?
Below are 7 deadly bacteria that could be present in your soil.
1. Burkholderia pseudomallei
B. pseudomallei causes melioidosis (also called Whitmore’s disease), a disease that can infect humans and animals. The bacterium enters the body through the skin via a cut or a wound. Melioidosis is endemic in many countries in Southeast Asia, Australia, and central and south America. Symptoms of the disease include chest pains, pains in bones and/or joints, cough, skin infection, lung nodules, and pneumonia.
2. Bacillus cereus
B. cereus is commonly found in soil. It is very hardy and can survive in unfavorable conditions, such as extreme heat. While some B. cereus strains are useful as they can be used as probiotics to restore the microflora balance in the digestive tracts, some are harmful and can cause food-related illnesses. Particularly, it is responsible for causing vomiting and diarrhea associated with food poisoning.
3. Bacillus anthracis
4. Clostridium perfringens
C. perfringens is one of the most common causes of foodborne illnesses. It also causes other severe illnesses. Symptoms of C. perfringens infection are:
5. Clostridium tetani
C. tetani bacterium is sensitive to heat and cannot survive the presence of oxygen during its vegetative growth. But when it matures, it develops very hardy spores that are resistant to heat and most antiseptics.
6. Clostridium botulinum
Botulinum is not all evil, though. Studies show that its purified form can be used to treat involuntary muscle contractions. It also has uses in cosmetics procedures. When used as a therapeutic agent, the toxin is known as Botox.
7. Listeria monocytogenes
L. monocytogenes (found in soil, water, and even in animals) is one of the bacterial pathogens that can cause food-borne illnesses. It causes listeriosis, a rare but potentially deadly disease of the nervous system (of mammals, birds, and, sometimes, humans). A serious case of listeriosis infection can result in pneumonia, septicemia, meningitis, and miscarriage or stillbirth. Listeriosis kills about a third of the people infected. Ingestion of a large amount of the bacterium can also cause gastroenteritis (inflammation of the stomach and the intestine with vomiting and diarrhea).
L. monocytogenes is the only non-spore-forming bacterium in this list. It is found everywhere in the environment and can survive the harmful effects of extreme heat and cold and even the absence of water. The main route of transmission is through the mouth after ingestion of contaminated food. The bacterium then enters the intestinal tract and causes systemic infections.
Below are 7 deadly bacteria that could be present in your soil.
1. Burkholderia pseudomallei
B. pseudomallei causes melioidosis (also called Whitmore’s disease), a disease that can infect humans and animals. The bacterium enters the body through the skin via a cut or a wound. Melioidosis is endemic in many countries in Southeast Asia, Australia, and central and south America. Symptoms of the disease include chest pains, pains in bones and/or joints, cough, skin infection, lung nodules, and pneumonia.
2. Bacillus cereus
B. cereus is commonly found in soil. It is very hardy and can survive in unfavorable conditions, such as extreme heat. While some B. cereus strains are useful as they can be used as probiotics to restore the microflora balance in the digestive tracts, some are harmful and can cause food-related illnesses. Particularly, it is responsible for causing vomiting and diarrhea associated with food poisoning.
3. Bacillus anthracis
The B. anthracis bacterium is
very tough and can survive for a long time (decades, even centuries). It is
found within soil on all continents. The bacterium produces spores—the cells
that develop into new bacteria—that cause contamination when inhaled or
ingested. These spores can survive harsh conditions, such as extreme heat and
drought, and spread easily in air. They enter the body via inhalation or
through skin lesion or wound. Once inside the body, they multiply quickly.
B. anthracis is the causative agent of Anthrax, a disease
that commonly affects warm-blooded animals and humans. Most forms of Anthrax
are deadly. The toxin the bacterium produces can cause skin ulcers, respiration
difficulties, fever, vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, and, in severe cases, death.
However, the disease is not considered contagious and there is very little
chance of it being passed from person to person.4. Clostridium perfringens
Source
C. perfringens is everywhere
but is mainly found in soil and water. It enters the body through a serious
skin wound or lesion. The bacterium is anaerobic, meaning it doesn’t need
oxygen to survive. If exposed to extreme temperatures, it will produce new
spores.
C. perfringens is one of the most common causes of foodborne illnesses. It also causes other severe illnesses. Symptoms of C. perfringens infection are:
- tissue necrosis
- bacteremia (presence of bacteria in blood)
- emphysematous cholecystitis (also known as clostridial cholecystitis)–a severe infection of the gallbladder wall caused by gas-forming organisms that is usually considered a surgical emergency
- gas gangrene (also known as clostridial myonecrosis or myonecrosis)–a necrotic damage to muscle tissues
5. Clostridium tetani
C. tetani, responsible for
causing tetanus, is found in soil and ordinary dirt. It produces a very potent
toxin called tetanospasmin, which affects the nervous system. Exposure to the
toxin can result in muscle stiffness, respiratory distress, painful muscular
spasms, and, up to about 50% of the cases, death.
C. tetani bacterium is sensitive to heat and cannot survive the presence of oxygen during its vegetative growth. But when it matures, it develops very hardy spores that are resistant to heat and most antiseptics.
6. Clostridium botulinum
C. botulinum produces hardy
and durable spores that are found in soil and water in many parts of the world.
It is an anaerobic bacterium. This bacterium produces very lethal toxin, called
botulinum toxin, which can paralyze muscle tissues. The toxin blocks release of
a very important neurotransmitter called acetylcholine
in humans and some animals. Acetylcholine, released from the ends of nerve
fibers, is involved in the transmission of nerve impulses. C. botulinum also causes serious and sometimes fatal cases of
botulism. Botulism poisoning often causes serious paralysis and sometimes
death.
Botulinum is not all evil, though. Studies show that its purified form can be used to treat involuntary muscle contractions. It also has uses in cosmetics procedures. When used as a therapeutic agent, the toxin is known as Botox.
7. Listeria monocytogenes
L. monocytogenes (found in soil, water, and even in animals) is one of the bacterial pathogens that can cause food-borne illnesses. It causes listeriosis, a rare but potentially deadly disease of the nervous system (of mammals, birds, and, sometimes, humans). A serious case of listeriosis infection can result in pneumonia, septicemia, meningitis, and miscarriage or stillbirth. Listeriosis kills about a third of the people infected. Ingestion of a large amount of the bacterium can also cause gastroenteritis (inflammation of the stomach and the intestine with vomiting and diarrhea).
L. monocytogenes is the only non-spore-forming bacterium in this list. It is found everywhere in the environment and can survive the harmful effects of extreme heat and cold and even the absence of water. The main route of transmission is through the mouth after ingestion of contaminated food. The bacterium then enters the intestinal tract and causes systemic infections.
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