Investigation of blood parasites of pygoscelid penguins at the King George and Elephant Islands, South Shetlands Archipelago, Antarctica

Author(s):Show less -

Thijl Vanstreels, Ralph Eric ^[1] ; Miranda, Flavia R. ^{[1, 2]} ; Ruoppolo, Valeria ^{[1, 3]} ; de Almeida Reis, Ana Olivia ^[4] ; Costa, Erli Schneider ^{[5, 4]} ; de Lira Pessoa, Adriana Rodrigues ^[5] ; Machado Torres, Joao Paulo ^[5] ; Teixeira da Cunha, Larissa Schmauder ^[5] ; Piuco, Roberta da Cruz ^[6] ; Valiati, Victor Hugo ^[7] ; Gonzalez-Acuna, Daniel ^[8] ; Labruna, Marcelo B. ^[9] ; Petry, Maria Virginia ^[6] ; Epiphanio, Sabrina ^[10] ; Catao-Dias, Jose Luiz ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Lab Patol Comparada Anim Selvagens, Dept Patol, Fac Med Vet & Zootecnia, BR-05508270 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[2] Wildlife Conservat Soc, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[3] Int Fund Anim Welf, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[4] Univ Estado Rio de Janeiro, Lab Ecol Aves, Inst Biol Roberto Alcantara Gomes, BR-20550011 Rio De Janeiro - Brazil

^[5] Univ Fed Rio de Janeiro, Lab Radioisotopos Eduardo Penna Franca, Inst Biofis Carlos Chagas Filho, Rio De Janeiro - Brazil

^[6] Univ Vale Rio dos Sinos, Lab Ornitol Anim Marinhos, Sao Leopoldo - Brazil

^[7] Univ Vale Rio dos Sinos, Mol Biol Lab, Sao Leopoldo - Brazil

^[8] Univ Concepcion, Fac Ciencias Vet, Concepcion - Chile

^[9] Univ Sao Paulo, Parasitol Lab, Dept Med Vet Prevent & Saude Anim, Fac Med Vet & Zootecnia, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[10] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Ciencias Biol, Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: POLAR BIOLOGY; v. 37, n. 1, p. 135-139, JAN 2014.
• Web of Science Citations: 9

Abstract

Parasites may adversely affect the breeding success and survival of penguins, potentially hampering the viability of their populations. We examined 161 pygoscelid penguins (3 Pygoscelis adeliae, 98 Pygoscelis antarcticus, and 60 Pygoscelis papua) at the South Shetlands Archipelago during the 2010-2011 summer; blood smears were examined for 64 penguins (2 P. adeliae, 18 P. antarcticus, and 44 P. papua), and a PCR test targeting Haemoproteus sp. and Plasmodium sp. was applied for 37 penguins (2 P. adeliae, 17 P. antarcticus, 19 P. papua). No blood parasites were observed, and all PCR tests were negative, leukocyte profiles were similar to those reported in other studies for wild pygoscelid penguins, and all penguins were in good body condition and had no external signs of disease. One specimen of chewing lice (Austrogoniodes sp.) was recorded in one P. antarcticus at King George Island. Ticks (Ixodes uriae) were not observed on the penguins, but were found on the ground near P. antarcticus nests at King George Island. The absence of avian blood parasites in Antarctic penguins is thought to result from the absence of competent invertebrate hosts in the climatic conditions. Predicted climate changes may redefine the geographic distribution of vector-borne pathogens, and therefore, the occurrence of blood parasites and their invertebrate hosts should be monitored regularly in Antarctic birds, particularly in the northernmost Antarctic Peninsula. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 10/51801-5 - Avian malaria and penguins in Brazil: epidemiological and pathological investigations of a disease with potential risks to avian conservation
• Grantee: Jose Luiz Catao Dias
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 09/53956-9 - Study of avian malaria in Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) kept in selected Brazilian coast rehabilitation centers
• Grantee: Ralph Eric Thijl Del Val Onoro Vanstreels
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)