Investigation of Babesia sp in pygoscelid penguins at the South Shetland Islands

Autor(es)

Thijl Vanstreels, Ralph Eric ^{[1, 2, 3, 4]} ; Ferreira Junior, Francisco C. ^[5] ; Dutra, Daniela de Angeli ^[5] ; Epiphanio, Sabrina ^[6] ; Braga, Erika M. ^[5] ; Pistorius, Pierre A. ^{[1, 2, 3]} ; Catao-Dias, Jose Luiz ^[4]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Nelson Mandela Univ, Inst Coastal & Marine Res, Marine Apex Predator Res Unit, Port Elizabeth - South Africa

^[2] Nelson Mandela Univ, FitzPatrick Inst African Ornithol, Dept Sci & Technol, Port Elizabeth - South Africa

^[3] Nelson Mandela Univ, FitzPatrick Inst African Ornithol, Natl Res Fdn Ctr Excellence, Dept Zool, Port Elizabeth - South Africa

^[4] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med Vet & Zootecnia, Dept Patol, Lab Patol Comparada Anim Selvagens, Ave Prof Dr Orlando Marques de Paiva 87, BR-05508270 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[5] Univ Fed Minas Gerais, Inst Ciencias Biol, Dept Parasitol, Belo Horizonte, MG - Brazil

^[6] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Ciencias Farmaceut, Dept Anal Clin & Toxicol, Lab Imunopatol Celular & Mol Malaria, Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: POLAR RESEARCH; v. 37, n. 1 SEP 26 2018.
• Citações Web of Science: 0

Resumo

Babesia spp. are tick-borne parasites, and 16 avian-infecting species have been described to date, including one species (Babesia peircei) that infects penguins. Considering the results of a recent study reporting Babesia sp. in penguins on Deception Island, South Shetland Islands, we re-examined the samples obtained in a previous investigation on the occurrence of blood parasites in adult Adelie (Pygoscelis adeliae), chinstrap (Pygoscelis antarcticus) and gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua) on King George and Elephant islands, South Shetland Islands. Notwithstanding a comprehensive re-examination of the blood smears, Babesia sp. was not detected. When we employed two nested PCR tests targeting the 18S rRNA gene of Babesia, a considerable proportion of the samples produced positive results; however, gene sequencing revealed these were due to cross-amplification of non-target organisms. We therefore did not detect Babesia sp. infection in penguins on King George and Elephant islands. Additional studies will be valuable to clarify the distribution and epidemiology of tick-borne pathogens in sub-Antarctic and Antarctic seabirds. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 09/53956-9 - Estudo da malária aviária em pinguins-de-Magalhães (Spheniscus magellanicus) mantidos em centros de reabilitação selecionados do litoral brasileiro
• Beneficiário: Ralph Eric Thijl Del Val Onoro Vanstreels
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Doutorado Direto
• Processo FAPESP: 10/51801-5 - Malária aviária e pinguins no Brasil: estudo epiemiológico e patológico de uma enfermidade com potencial risco à conservação da avifauna
• Beneficiário: Jose Luiz Catao Dias
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Temático