Do blood parasites infect Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) in the wild? Prospective investigation and climatogeographic considerations

Abstract

Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) are native to Argentina, Chile and the Falkland Islands. Magellanic penguins are highly susceptible to blood parasites such as the mosquito-borne Plasmodium spp., which have been documented causing high morbidity and mortality in zoos and rehabilitation centres. However, to date no blood parasites have been detected in wild Magellanic penguins, and it is not clear whether this is reflective of their true absence or is instead related to an insufficiency in sampling effort or a failure of the diagnostic methods. We examined blood smears of 284 Magellanic penguins from the Argentinean coast and tested their blood samples with nested polymerase chain reaction tests targeting Haemoproteus, Plasmodium, Leucocytozoon and Babesia. No blood parasites were detected. Analysing the sampling effort of previous studies and the climatogeography of the region, we found there is strong basis to conclude that haemosporidians do not infect wild Magellanic penguins on the Argentinean coast. However, at present it is not possible to determine whether such parasites occur on the Chilean coast and at the Falkland Islands. Furthermore, it is troubling that the northward distribution expansion of Magellanic penguins and the poleward distribution shift of vectors may lead to novel opportunities for the transmission of blood parasites.

Serological Survey for Select Infectious Agents in Wild Magellanic Penguins (Spheniscus Magellanicus) in Argentina, 1994–2008

“…The higher prevalence of antibodies against Aspergillus sp. at Isla Martillo (Table 2) is consistent with reports of high incidence of aspergillosis in Magellanic Penguins at Isla Magdalena (Godoy et al 2013), suggesting that the higher rainfall in the southern tip of South America (Vanstreels et al 2017) causes penguins to experience a greater exposure to Aspergillus spp., poten- 138) 13 (30) 36 (144) 55 (9277 26) 29 (56) 24 (25) 26 (58) 30 (540 (21) CHLAM-40 138) 3 (30) 4 (144) 8 (9212 26 (92) 0 (25) 0 (135) 0 (68) 0 (26) 0 (30) 0 (10) 0 (18) 0 (34)…”

Parasites of seabirds: A survey of effects and ecological implications

“…Bennett et al, 1992;Greiner et al, 1975). For example, Vanstreels et al (2017) found no evidence of haemosporidia in Magellanic Penguins in the Sub-Antarctic region of Argentina, and Mallory et al (2007) also found no haemosporidia in Norhern Fulmars from the high Arctic. It is also thought that many haemosporidia are host species specific.…”

“…Haemosporidia, or blood parasites, are vector-borne parasites that have been well-studied (e.g. Padilla et al, 2004;Valkiunas, 2004;Vanstreels et al, 2017). They are transmitted to wild birds primarily by midges (Culicoides spp.…”

“…and flies (Simulium and Hippoboscidae spp. ; Friend and Franson, 1999;Vanstreels et al, 2017). There are currently four primary types of haemosporidia identified in seabirds, each carried by a different type of vector.…”

“…There are currently four primary types of haemosporidia identified in seabirds, each carried by a different type of vector. Plasmodium species are carried by mosquitoes, and are associated with diseases such as malaria in humans (Friend and Franson, 1999;Vanstreels et al, 2017). Haemoproteus species are carried by midges, and Leucocytozoon species are carried by flies (Friend and Franson, 1999).…”