Authors: S Kleinertz S Christmann L M R Silva J Hirzmann C Hermosilla A Taubert
Publish Date: 2014/08/28
Volume: 113, Issue: 11, Pages: 4133-4139
Abstract
In general the knowledge on parasites infecting Antarctic birds is scarce The present study intends to extend the knowledge on gastrointestinal parasites of Emperor Penguins Aptenodytes forsteri at the Atka Bay Antarctica Fecal samples of 50 individual Emperor Penguins were collected at the Atka Bay and analyzed using the sodiumacetateformaldehyde SAF method for the identification of intestinal helminth eggs and/or protozoan parasite stages In addition coproantigen ELISAs were performed to detect Cryptosporidium and Giardia infections Overall 13 out of 50 penguins proved parasitized 26 The following stages of gastrointestinal parasites were identified One Capillaria sp egg Tetrabothrius spp eggs Diphyllobothrium spp eggs and proglottids of the cestode Parorchites zederi The recorded Capillaria infection represents a new host record for Emperor Penguins All coproantigen ELISAs for the detection of Cryptosporidium spp and Giardia spp were negative This paper provides current data on parasites of the Emperor Penguin a protected endemic species of the AntarcticaWe are thankful to the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research for logistical support and sample acquisition Furthermore we thank the German Federal Environment Agency for the sampling permission We are grateful to Christine Henrich Agnes Mohr and Birgit Reinhardt for technical assistance Special thanks to Boyko B Georgiev Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research Bulgarian Academy of Sciences Sofia Bulgaria and Krzysztof Tomczuk Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Lublin Poland for providing us with assistive literature
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