From Microbes to Coastlines: UTH Researchers Chart Global One Health Trends in Our Oceans
Researchers from the University of Thessaly (UTH) — Alexandra Ioannou, Evmorfia Bataka, Nikolaos Kokosis, Charalambos Billinis, and Chrysi Laspidou — have published the first comprehensive bibliometric review of how the One Health framework is applied in coastal and marine ecosystems.
Analyzing over 150 publications from 2003–2025, the study reveals a rapid surge in research after 2020, peaking at 37 papers in 2024, but finds that fewer than 20% of studies fully integrate human, animal, and environmental health dimensions.
Annual scientific production on One Health in coastal and marine contexts (2013–2025). The output remained low and inconsistent until 2018, then increased sharply after 2020, peaking at 37 publications in 2024 and maintaining high levels in 2025.
Main findings:
- Research remains divided between biomedical (antibiotics, antimicrobial resistance, microbiology) and environmental (pollution, microplastics, eutrophication, HABs) clusters.
- Scientific output is concentrated in high-income countries such as the USA, Brazil, and the UK, while low- and middle-income coastal regions remain underrepresented.
- Only a handful of journals serve as core publication outlets, highlighting both growth and fragmentation in the field.
- Climate–health linkages and integrated indicators such as chlorophyll-a and microplastics are underexplored, despite their relevance for policy and monitoring.
Two main clusters are identified: (i) a biomedical and microbiological cluster on the left, centered on antibiotics, resistance mechanisms, and clinical studies; and (ii) an environmental cluster on the right, associated with heavy metals, microplastics, and ecosystem-related terms.
“Our findings highlight both the promise and the imbalance of One Health research in coastal systems,” said lead author Chrysi Laspidou. “To protect both ecosystems and communities, we must build stronger bridges between environmental and biomedical research — and ensure that vulnerable coastal regions are not left behind.”
The study provides an evidence base for embedding One Health into coastal monitoring, climate adaptation, and governance, contributing to progress toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
📘 Read the entire publication here: Coastal and Marine One Health: A Bibliometric Review (2003–2025)
