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

Polar research

Francisco C. Ferreira Junior^2¹  Daniela de Angeli Dutra^2²  Ralph Eric Thijl Vanstreels^1³  Sabrina Epiphanio^3⁴ 

[1] Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais^2;Laboratório de Imunopatologia Celular e Molecular da Malária, Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade de São Paulo^3;Laboratório de Patologia Comparada de Animais Selvagens, Departamento de Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo^1;Marine Apex Predator Research Unit, Institute for Coastal and Marine Research, Nelson Mandela University^4

关键词: Antarctica;    blood;    seabird;    Spheniscidae;    tick-borne pathogen;   

DOI  :  

学科分类：自然科学（综合）

来源: Co-Action Publishing

【 摘 要 】

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 Adélie ( 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.

【 授权许可】

CC BY-NC