A potentially lethal micro-organism, dubbed the 'cell from hell', has begun to invade the North Sea, after travelling more than 3,000 miles (5,000 kilometres) from the shores of North America.

The cells, called pfiesteria piscicida, were originally a harmless plant. But in North Carolina, USA, pollution has caused pfiesteria to mutate into a highly toxic killer preying on fish.

American fishermen complain that their stocks have been depleted even further, as pfiesteria kills millions of fish.

Marine experts now warn that the same could happen in the North Sea.

North Carolina - where it all began

Pfiesteria was first discovered in 1988, in sediment of rivers and along the coast of North Carolina. But without warning the plant became highly toxic, and began preying on fish.

When pfiesteria attacks, it uses its poison to stun the fish who lose all orientation. Then the organism proceeds to eat the fish alive.

This was worrying enough, and North Carolina fishermen suffered huge losses.

But soon humans became targets too. More and more people living and working along the coast began to suffer from open sores which would not heal, had headaches and memory loss.

Aftermath of a Pfiesteria attack on a human being

Scientists soon discovered the culprit: pfiesteria. In one experiment, pfiesteria cells were put into human blood. They immediately attacked and swallowed all blood cells.

So far scientists are at a loss as to how to counter the pfiesteria threat.

The organism is almost indestructible. When pfiesteria cysts are put into sulphuric acid they survive for 30 minutes. A human body thrown into sulphuric acid would quickly dissolve.

Pfiesteria has now crossed the Atlantic and turned up on the British Coast.

British Scientists looking for Pfiesteria

Nobody quite knows how the organism managed to do that, but marine biologists assume that it hitched a ride - hiding in water picked up by freighters in North Carolina as ballastwater.

Only one thing is certain: the "cell from hell" has arrived in the North Sea and its fishermen are getting worried.
 

Back to top | BBC News Home | BBC Homepage | ©