Pathological and molecular characterization of avian malaria in captive Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) in South America

SUMMARYPatagonia in southern South America is among the few world regions where direct human impact is still limited but progressively increasing, mainly represented by tourism, farming, fishing and mining activities. The sanitary condition of Patagonian wildlife is unknown, in spite of being critical for the assessment of anthropogenic effects there. The aim of this study was the characterization ofSalmonella entericastrains isolated from wild colonies of Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) located in Magdalena Island and Otway Sound, in Chilean Patagonia. Eight isolates ofSalmonellawere found, belonging to Agona and Enteritidis serotypes, with an infection rate of 0·38%. Resistance to ampicillin, cefotaxime, ceftiofur and tetracycline antimicrobials were detected, and some of these strains showed genotypic similarity withSalmonellastrains isolated from humans and gulls, suggesting inter-species transmission cycles and strengthening the role of penguins as sanitary sentinels in the Patagonian ecosystem.

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PLASMODIUM RELICTUM AS A CAUSE OF AVIAN MALARIA IN WILD-CAUGHT MAGELLANIC PENGUINS (SPHENISCUS MAGELLANICUS)

Journal of Wildlife Diseases ◽

10.7589/0090-3558-24.4.610 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 24 (4) ◽

pp. 610-619 ◽

Cited By ~ 56

Author(s):

Andrew S. Fix ◽

Cheryl Waterhouse ◽

Ellis C. Greiner ◽

Michael K. Stoskopf

Keyword(s):

Avian Malaria ◽

Plasmodium Relictum ◽

Spheniscus Magellanicus ◽

Magellanic Penguins

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Molecular characterization and distribution of Plasmodium matutinum, a common avian malaria parasite

Parasitology ◽

10.1017/s0031182017000737 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 144 (13) ◽

pp. 1726-1735 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

GEDIMINAS VALKIŪNAS ◽

MIKAS ILGŪNAS ◽

DOVILĖ BUKAUSKAITĖ ◽

VAIDAS PALINAUSKAS ◽

RASA BERNOTIENĖ ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Molecular Markers ◽

Molecular Characterization ◽

Malaria Parasite ◽

Avian Malaria ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Molecular Data ◽

Infected Blood ◽

Avian Malaria Parasite ◽

Thrush Nightingale

SUMMARYSpecies of Plasmodium (Plasmodiidae, Haemosporida) are widespread and cause malaria, which can be severe in avian hosts. Molecular markers are essential to detect and identify parasites, but still absent for many avian malaria and related haemosporidian species. Here, we provide first molecular characterization of Plasmodium matutinum, a common agent of avian malaria. This parasite was isolated from a naturally infected thrush nightingale Luscinia luscinia (Muscicapidae). Fragments of mitochondrial, apicoplast and nuclear genomes were obtained. Domestic canaries Serinus canaria were susceptible after inoculation of infected blood, and the long-lasting light parasitemia developed in two exposed birds. Clinical signs of illness were not reported. Illustrations of blood stages of P. matutinum (pLINN1) are given, and phylogenetic analysis identified the closely related avian Plasmodium species. The phylogeny based on partial cytochrome b (cyt b) sequences suggests that this parasite is most closely related to Plasmodium tejerai (cyt b lineage pSPMAG01), a common malaria parasite of American birds. Both these parasites belong to subgenus Haemamoeba, and their blood stages are similar morphologically, particularly due to marked vacuolization of the cytoplasm in growing erythrocytic meronts. Molecular data show that transmission of P. matutinum (pLINN1) occurs broadly in the Holarctic, and the parasite likely is of cosmopolitan distribution. Passeriform birds and Culex mosquitoes are common hosts. This study provides first molecular markers for detection of P. matutinum.

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Molecular characterization of avian malaria in the spotless starling (Sturnus unicolor)

Parasitology Research ◽

10.1007/s00436-018-5748-3 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 117 (3) ◽

pp. 919-928 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Jaime Muriel ◽

Jeff A. Graves ◽

Diego Gil ◽

S. Magallanes ◽

Concepción Salaberria ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Molecular Characterization ◽

Avian Malaria ◽

Sturnus Unicolor ◽

Spotless Starling

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Analysis of hematologic and serum chemistry values of Spheniscus magellanicus with molecular detection of avian malarial parasites (Plasmodium spp.)

Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira ◽

10.1590/s0100-736x2014001200016 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 34 (12) ◽

pp. 1236-1242 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Sabrina D.E. Campos ◽

Jeferson R. Pires ◽

Cristiane L. Nascimento ◽

Gustavo Dutra ◽

Rodolpho A. Torres-Filho ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Uric Acid ◽

Blood Cell ◽

Avian Malaria ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Southeastern Brazil ◽

Uric Acid Concentration ◽

Blood Samples ◽

Spheniscus Magellanicus ◽

Magellanic Penguins ◽

Significant Difference

Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) routinely migrate from their breeding colonies to Southern Brazil often contracting diseases during this migration, notably avian malaria, which has been already reported in Brazil and throughout the world. Detection of Plasmodium spp. in blood smears is the routine diagnostic method of avian malaria, however it has a low sensitivity rate when compared to molecular methods. Considering the negative impact of avian malaria on penguins, the aim of this study was to detect the presence of Plasmodium spp. in Magellanic penguins using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and by verifying clinical, hematological, and biochemical alterations in blood samples as well as to verify the likely prognosis in response to infection. Blood samples were obtained from 75 penguins to determine packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cell (RBC) and white blood cell (WBC) counts, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), uric acid, total protein, albumin, globulin and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity levels. Whole blood samples were used for PCR assays. Plasmodium spp. was detected in 32.0% of the specimens using PCR and in 29.3% using microscopic analyses. Anorexia, diarrhea and neurological disorders were more frequent in penguins with malaria and a significant weight difference between infected and non-infected penguins was detected. PCV and MCV rates showed no significant difference. RBC and WBC counts were lower in animals with avian malaria and leukopenia was present in some penguins. Basophil and lymphocyte counts were lower in infected penguins along with high monocyte counts. There was no significant difference in AST activities between infected and non-infected animals. There was a significant increase in uric acid values, however a decrease in albumin values was observed in infected penguins. Based on this study, we concluded that Plasmodium spp. occurs in Magellanic penguins of rehabilitation centers in Southeastern Brazil, compromising the weight of infected animals with clinical alterations appearing in severe cases of this disease. It was also noted that, although the hematological abnormalities presented by these animals may not have been conclusive, leukopenia, monocytosis and the decrease of basophils and lymphocytes revealed an unfavorable prognosis, and Plasmodium spp. infections may progress with elevated uric acid concentration and low albumin levels.

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Avian Malaria (Plasmodium spp.) in Captive Magellanic Penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) from Northern Argentina, 2010

Journal of Wildlife Diseases ◽

10.7589/2015-08-219 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 52 (3) ◽

pp. 734-737 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Ralph Eric Thijl Vanstreels ◽

Félix Capellino ◽

Patricia Silveira ◽

Érika M. Braga ◽

Sergio Andres Rodríguez-Heredia ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Avian Malaria ◽

Spheniscus Magellanicus ◽

Magellanic Penguins

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Comparative morphometric evaluation of hepatic hemosiderosis in wild Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) infected with different Plasmodium spp. subgenera

Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária ◽

10.1590/s1984-296120180092 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 28 (1) ◽

pp. 68-79

Author(s):

Ana Carolina Ewbank ◽

Ricardo de Francisco Strefezzi ◽

Carlos Sacristán ◽

Cristiane Kiyomi Miyaji Kolesnikovas ◽

Aryse Martins ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Avian Malaria ◽

Iron Supplementation ◽

Oil Contamination ◽

Rehabilitation Center ◽

Liver Mass ◽

Spheniscus Magellanicus ◽

Age Class ◽

Magellanic Penguins ◽

Adult Plumage ◽

Morphometric Evaluation

Abstract Avian malaria is one of the most important diseases of captive penguins. We employed morphometric techniques to evaluate hepatic hemosiderosis in rehabilitating wild Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) that were negative (n = 9) or naturally infected by different subgenera of Plasmodium spp. (n = 24), according with: Plasmodium subgenera (Haemamoeba, Huffia, Other lineages, and Unidentified lineages), severity of Plasmodium histopathological lesions, and concurrent diseases, age class (juvenile or adult plumage), sex (male, female or not determined), body score (emaciated, thin, good, excellent, not available), molt, presence or absence of oil contamination upon admission, iron supplementation, and rehabilitation center. The percentage of the area occupied by hemosiderin was called ‘Index of Hepatic Hemosiderosis (IHH)’. Plasmodium-positive females presented significantly higher IHH values (17.53 ± 12.95%) than males (7.20 ± 4.25%; p = 0.041). We observed higher levels of congestion (p = 0.0182) and pneumonia (p = 0.0250) severity between Unidentified lineages vs. Huffia. We believe that the hepatic hemosiderosis observed in this study was multifactorial, the result of pathological processes caused by malaria, molting, hemoglobin and myoglobin catabolism during migration, anemia, concomitant diseases, and iron supplementation, all possibly potentiated by decreased liver mass. Further studies are needed to clarify the mechanisms of these hypotheses.

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