Plasmodium blood parasite found in endangered Galapagos penguins (Spheniscus mendiculus)

Levin, Iris I.; Outlaw, Diana C.; Vargas, F. Hernán; Parker, Patricia G.

doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2009.06.017

Cited by 101 publications

(112 citation statements)

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“…The prevalence of the haemosporidian parasites of the genera Plasmodium, Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon is generally low in seabirds (Peirce 2005, Quillfeldt et al 2011, and worldwide, penguins appear to be more likely to be infected by Plasmodium than by species of Haemoproteus or Leucocytozoon (Levin et al 2009, Quillfeldt et al 2011. Infections of avian malaria, caused by Plasmodium relictum, P. elongatum and P. cathemerium, have been observed in many captive populations of penguins, often resulting in high mortality (Fleischman et al 1968, Bennett et al 1993a, Clarke & Kerry 1993, Graczyk et al 1994, Jones & Shellam 1999a, Valkiunas 2005, Bueno et al 2010.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The pathology and pathogenicity of a novel Haemoproteus spp. infection in wild Little Penguins (Eudyptula minor)

Cannell¹,

Krasnec²,

Campbell³

et al. 2013

Veterinary Parasitology

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This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is published in its final form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain. were observed in all ten dead penguins. This is the first study to demonstrate both the in situ presence of the Haemoproteus parasite in any member of the Sphensicidae family and mortality due to its presence. We postulate the involvement of anomalous environmental conditions in a potential increase in local vectors.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The pathology and pathogenicity of a novel Haemoproteus spp. infection in wild Little Penguins (Eudyptula minor)

Cannell¹,

Krasnec²,

Campbell³

et al. 2013

Veterinary Parasitology

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“…During our 2-year study, including handling over 1000 birds, we saw no apparently sick birds. Avian blood parasites of the genus that causes avian malaria (Plasmodium) are present in Galápagos (Levin et al 2009(Levin et al , 2013, though to date only Haemoproteus parasites have been identified in Sulids and none in Blue-footed Boobies (Quillfeldt et al 2011). Blue-footed Boobies are known to have some parasites, including two endoparasites, a nematode (Contracecum sp.)…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chronic lack of breeding by Galápagos Blue-footed Boobies and associated population decline

Anchundia¹,

Huyvaert²,

Anderson³

2014

ACE

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ABSTRACT. A survey of Blue-footed Boobies (Sula nebouxii excisa) throughout the taxon's range in Galápagos, Ecuador found ~6400 adults, compared to a rough estimate of 20,000 in the 1960s. Few pairs bred in 2011-2013 and almost no birds in juvenile plumage were seen. Long-term data suggest that poor breeding began in 1998. Lack of recruitment over this period would mean that the current population is mostly elderly and experiencing senescent decline in performance. Anthropogenic effects such as introduced predators are unlikely to explain this decline because islands with and without such factors exhibited the same low breeding. The poor reproduction seems to be linked to diet. Previous work indicated that sardine and herring (Clupeidae) supported successful breeding, but these fish were mostly absent from the diet during this study, except in the central part of Galápagos, where most breeding attempts during this study occurred. Elsewhere in the eastern Pacific sardine abundance has decreased dramatically by natural processes in the last 15 years, as part of a well-documented and apparently natural cycle. This cyclic change in abundance provides a possible explanation for the recent demographic changes in Blue-footed Boobies in Galápagos. Whether natural or anthropogenic in origin, the implications of senescent decline in breeding ability and survival are dramatic for this genetically distinct icon of biodiversity and ecotourism. Absence chronique de reproduction chez le Fou à pieds bleus des Galápagos et déclin inhérent de la populationRÉSUMÉ. Un inventaire du Fou à pieds bleus (Sula nebouxii excisa) dans l'ensemble de l'aire occupée aux Galápagos, en Équateur, fait état d'~6 400 adultes, comparativement aux ~20 000 estimés grossièrement dans les années 1960. Seulement quelques couples se sont reproduits en 2011-2013 et presque aucun oiseau en plumage juvénile n'a été observé. Les données à long terme indiquent que la reproduction est mauvaise depuis 1998. Le manque de recrutement durant la période 1998-2013 laisse supposer que la population actuelle serait surtout constituée de vieux individus aux performances reproductrices déclinantes en raison du phénomène de sénescence. Les causes de source anthropique, comme les prédateurs introduits, n'expliquent vraisemblablement pas ce déclin, car toutes les îles, avec ou sans prédateurs, présentent le même faible taux de reproduction. Ce faible taux semble plutôt lié à l'alimentation. Ainsi, des études antérieures ont révélé que les sardines et les harengs (Clupeidae) constituaient la base de l'alimentation d'individus s'étant reproduits avec succès dans le passé; or, ces poissons étaient pratiquement absents de l'alimentation des fous lors de notre étude, hormis dans le centre des Galápagos où la plupart des tentatives de reproduction se sont produites. Ailleurs dans l'est du Pacifique, le nombre de sardines a diminué dramatiquement durant les quinze dernières années, selon un cycle bien documenté et apparemment naturel. Il est donc possible que ce changement cycliq...

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“…Although blood parasites can play an important role in the evolution and ecology of their hosts (Arriero and Moller, 2008), they can also pose a significant threat to the conservation of endangered hosts (Atkinson et al, 1995;Bunbury et al, 2007;Levin et al, 2009). Understanding the transmission and ecology of blood parasites is essential to our understanding of their ecologic role in host populations, and in measuring their conservation threat to protected species.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecology and Dynamics of the Blood Parasite, Hepatozoon Tuatarae (Apicomplexa), in Tuatara (Sphenodon Punctatus) on Stephens Island, New Zealand

Godfrey

Nelson

Bull

2011

Journal of Wildlife Diseases

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ABSTRACT:We explored infection patterns and temporal dynamics of the protozoan blood parasite Hepatozoon tuatarae (Apicomplexa) infecting the tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus), a protected reptile living on Stephens Island, New Zealand. In March 2006, we surveyed tuatara in five study sites to examine spatial variation in infection prevalence, and four times, from May 2005 to November 2006, we recaptured marked individuals within three study sites to examine the temporal dynamics of infection. We also examined how blood-parasite infection patterns were influenced by host sex, body size, and host infestation with ticks (Amblyomma sphenodonti) and mites (Neotrombicula spp.), which are potential vectors of the blood parasite. Infection prevalence (16.9-24% infected) and intensity (,0.01-0.1% blood cells infected) were low in all samples. Infection intensity varied among the five sampled sites in March 2006, but prevalence did not. Neither infection prevalence nor intensity varied with time, and infections were detected in consecutive samples from recaptured individuals for up to 18 mo. Neither survey showed an influence of host sex on infection, but both surveys showed infection intensity declined with increasing host body size, as did infection prevalence in the spatial survey. In the temporal survey, we found a positive relationship between the tick numbers on hosts and blood-parasite infection intensity, which were stronger in two of the sampling periods and among larger hosts. These data suggest that exposure and susceptibility to infection decreases with host size and that ticks, but not mites, are probably the vectors in this ancient host-parasite association of a long-lived (.50 yr) host.

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Plasmodium blood parasite found in endangered Galapagos penguins (Spheniscus mendiculus)

Cited by 101 publications

References 21 publications

The pathology and pathogenicity of a novel Haemoproteus spp. infection in wild Little Penguins (Eudyptula minor)

The pathology and pathogenicity of a novel Haemoproteus spp. infection in wild Little Penguins (Eudyptula minor)

Chronic lack of breeding by Galápagos Blue-footed Boobies and associated population decline

Ecology and Dynamics of the Blood Parasite, Hepatozoon Tuatarae (Apicomplexa), in Tuatara (Sphenodon Punctatus) on Stephens Island, New Zealand

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