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

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

Parasitology Research ◽

10.1007/s00436-018-6155-5 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 118 (2) ◽

pp. 599-606 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Paula Augusto Taunde ◽

Matheus Viezzer Bianchi ◽

Lívia Perles ◽

Fernando Soares da Silva ◽

Tainã Normanton Guim ◽

...

Keyword(s):

South America ◽

Molecular Characterization ◽

Avian Malaria ◽

Spheniscus Magellanicus ◽

Magellanic Penguins

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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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