Pathogenic and opportunistic microorganisms in caves

Authors

Valme Jurado
Leonila Laiz
Veronica Rodriguez-Nava, Université de Lyon
Patrick Boiron, Université de Lyon
Bernardo Hermosin
Sergio Sanchez-Moral, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales
Cesareo Saiz-Jimenez

Abstract

With today’s leisure tourism, the frequency of visits to many caves makes it necessary to know about possible potentially pathogenic microorganisms in caves, determine their reservoirs, and inform the public about the consequences of such visits. Our data reveal that caves could be a potential danger to visitors because of the presence of opportunistic microorganisms, whose existence and possible development in humans is currently unknown.

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.5038/1827-806X.39.1.2

Recommended Citation

Jurado, Valme; Leonila Laiz; Veronica Rodriguez-Nava; Patrick Boiron; Bernardo Hermosin; Sergio Sanchez-Moral; and Cesareo Saiz-Jimenez. 2010. Pathogenic and opportunistic microorganisms in caves. International Journal of Speleology, 39: 15-21.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/ijs/vol39/iss1/2