In the Arctic, where the temperatures are low, polar bears adapt to that unique ecosystem, which includes a distinctive array of biodiversity capable of coping with the extreme conditions in those regions of the Earth.

However, with the exacerbation of global warming and the increase in ice melting rates, the environmental conditions surrounding polar bears are changing, allowing pathogens to spread.

A research group from the United States conducted a recent study that revealed an increased exposure of polar bears to pathogens due to rising temperatures and environmental changes. They published their study in the "PLOS One" journal on October 23, 2024.

Researchers are examining blood samples from the past and specific periods to see if there are antibodies in the blood of polar bears, as antibodies are a strong indicator of infection. Indeed, they examined blood samples from polar bears in the Chukchi Sea between 1987 and 1994 and then examined other samples from polar bears between 2008 and 2017.

Researchers discovered five new types of pathogens in the most recent blood samples. These diseases include parasites that cause "toxoplasmosis," "neosporosis," bacteria that cause rabbit fever, "brucellosis," and "canine distemper."

This increase in the spread of pathogens is one of the fastest rates observed in polar bears, primarily due to environmental changes resulting from global warming and the consequent rise in temperatures, especially since global warming in the Arctic is nearly four times greater than the global average. Additionally, researchers found that females are more exposed to these pathogens than males.

Polar bears are considered one of the most distinctive biological species of the Arctic, and specialists are making significant efforts to preserve them. However, changes in the surrounding environment expose them to many risks, increasing the need to protect them and make the necessary efforts to mitigate the effects of global warming.