Reducing bumblefoot lesions in a group of captive Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) with the use of environmental enrichment

Captive penguins are prone to pododermatitis (bumblefoot) lesions due to sedentary habits, changes in normal activity patterns, prolonged time on hard and abrasive surfaces, and less time swimming in the water. Environmental enrichment allows the use of creative and ingenious techniques that aim to keep the captive animals occupied by increasing the range and the diversity of behavioral opportunities always respecting the ethological needs of the species. The main goal of this work was to use environmental enrichment techniques to reduce pododermatitis in a group of captive penguins. Five captive Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) that were showing bumblefoot lesions were followed during this project. To monitor the lesions, all animals were physically restraint 3 times a week over a period of 12 weeks. Environmental enrichment was introduced daily in the water with the goal of enhancing their time in the water for one extra hour daily. The results demonstrate that in a twelve weeks period, four animals showed significant reduction of the lesions in both feet and in two animals the lesions were completely healed. With these results we can conclude that aquatic environmental enrichment allowed this group of penguins to spend more time in the water, favoring the reduction of the bumblefoot lesions.

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Homeopathic Treatment of Pododermatitis in Magellanic Penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus)

Homeopathy ◽

10.1055/s-0040-1716392 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Franscinne Brait Narita ◽

Bruna Scardoeli ◽

Hugo Gallo Neto ◽

Cidéli de Paula Coelho

Keyword(s):

Side Effects ◽

Normal Activity ◽

Spheniscus Magellanicus ◽

Homeopathic Treatment ◽

Magellanic Penguins ◽

Initial Severity ◽

Rate Of Recovery ◽

Zoological Park ◽

Living Area

Abstract Background Problems with the feet are common in penguins, with a particular predisposition to pododermatitis. This condition usually occurs due to the changes in normal activity that result from being held captive, but its precise pathogenesis is still undetermined. Methods/Patients This veterinary case study reports the use of oral homeopathic treatment on acute and chronic pododermatitis in five Magellanic penguins in a zoological park setting. During treatment, the patients remained in the penguins' living area, and the effect of the treatment on the progression of their lesions was assessed visually once weekly. The treatment consisted of a combination of Arnica montana and Calcarea carbonica. Results After treatment, the appearance of the lesions had noticeably improved: in the majority of penguins there was no longer evidence of infection or edema in the feet. The rate of recovery depended on the initial severity of the lesion. Those penguins that still showed signs of infection nevertheless exhibited a clear diminution of the size and thickness of the lesions. Homeopathic treatment did not cause any side effects. Conclusion Homeopathy offers a useful treatment option for pododermatitis in captive penguins, with easy administration and without side effects.

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Health state and reproductive output in Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus)

Ethology Ecology & Evolution ◽

10.1080/08927014.2002.9522758 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

pp. 19-28 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

J. Moreno ◽

P. Yorio ◽

P. Garcia-Borboroglu ◽

J. Potti ◽

S. Villar

Keyword(s):

Reproductive Output ◽

Health State ◽

Spheniscus Magellanicus ◽

Magellanic Penguins

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Occurrence of gastrointestinal parasites in Spheniscus magellanicus (Foster, 1781) located in Pontal do Sul, PR, Brazil

Arquivo Brasileiro de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia ◽

10.1590/1678-4162-9335 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 70 (2) ◽

pp. 491-496

Author(s):

M.S. Vanhoni ◽

G.M. Arná ◽

L.K. Sprenger ◽

D.L. Vieira ◽

L.W. Luis ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gastrointestinal Parasites ◽

High Rate ◽

Infected Bird ◽

Brazilian Coast ◽

Marine Animals ◽

Spheniscus Magellanicus ◽

Control Programs ◽

Magellanic Penguins ◽

Rehabilitation Centers ◽

South Of Brazil

ABSTRACT Gastrointestinal parasitism is the main health problem faced by Spheniscus magellanicus, known as Magellanic penguins, in route on the Brazilian coast. The aim of this research was to report the occurrence and intensity of gastrointestinal parasites in S. magellanicus that reached Pontal do Sul, Paraná, South of Brazil. The study was performed at the Marine Study Center of the Federal University of Parana (CEM-UFPR) with 38 specimens, 31 were necropsied and seven were examined alive with coproparasitological exams. From the necropsied animals, 93.5% (29/31) were parasitized with at least one parasite species. Contracaecum pelagicum was the most prevalent 93,5% (29/31) parasite, followed by Cardiocephaloides physalis (64.5%) and Tetrabothrius lutzi (51.6%). Only one animal was free of parasites and the most infected bird had 1.076 parasites with an average of 194 worms. Willis-Mollay method revealed that 57.1% (4/7) had C. pelagicum eggs. In conclusion, the high rate of gastrointestinal parasites in S. magellanicus confirms the clinical exams, when animals had poor health conditions when they were found in the cost of Paraná. This study provides data to enrich the literature regarding the helminth fauna of the Magellanic penguins, assisting sanitary control programs in Rehabilitation Centers for Marine Animals.

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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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Telomeres shorten and then lengthen before fledging in Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus)

Aging ◽

10.18632/aging.101172 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 487-493 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Jack A. Cerchiara ◽

Rosa Ana Risques ◽

Donna Prunkard ◽

Jeffrey R. Smith ◽

Olivia J. Kane ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Spheniscus Magellanicus ◽

Magellanic Penguins

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Trophic ecology of Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) during the non-breeding period

Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science ◽

10.1016/j.ecss.2018.06.001 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 210 ◽

pp. 109-122 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Fernanda Pinto Marques ◽

Luis Gustavo Cardoso ◽

Manuel Haimovici ◽

Leandro Bugoni

Keyword(s):

Trophic Ecology ◽

Breeding Period ◽

Spheniscus Magellanicus ◽

Magellanic Penguins

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Insights into the Foraging Behavior of Magellanic Penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus)

Waterbirds ◽

10.1675/063.041.0315 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 41 (3) ◽

pp. 332-336 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Agustina Gómez-Laich ◽

Ken Yoda ◽

Flavio Quintana

Keyword(s):

Foraging Behavior ◽

Spheniscus Magellanicus ◽

Magellanic Penguins

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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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