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Subcutaneous clostridial infection in Adelie penguins in Hope Bay, Antarctica

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Abstract

During the 2000–2001 breeding season in Hope Bay, Antarctica, two adult Adelie penguins were found dead with lesions compatible with subcutaneous clostridial infection. Clostridium cadaveris was isolated from the musculature and the subcutaneous tissue of one of these two penguins, whereas Clostridium sporogenes was isolated from the subcutaneous tissue of the other penguin. Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus spp. were isolated from both animals. This is the first report of subcutaneous clostridial infection in Antarctic Adelie penguins.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Instituto Antártico Argentino and Departamento de Biología, Dirección Nacional del Antártico, for providing support to field work in Antarctica, especially to N. R. Coria and D. Montalti. We thank Dr. M. Rivas, Servicio Fisiopatogenia, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas–ANLIS “Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán”, Argentina, for E. coli strains characterization. We are grateful to M. Perez Cometto for his collaboration in Hope Bay, and also to L. Isturiz for the grammatical revision.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratorio de Diagnóstico e Investigaciones Bacteriológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, CC: 296, 1900, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Victorio F. Nievas, Gerardo A. Leotta & Germán B. Vigo

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  1. Victorio F. Nievas
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  2. Gerardo A. Leotta
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  3. Germán B. Vigo
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Correspondence to Germán B. Vigo.

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Nievas, V.F., Leotta, G.A. & Vigo, G.B. Subcutaneous clostridial infection in Adelie penguins in Hope Bay, Antarctica. Polar Biol 30, 249–252 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-006-0179-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-006-0179-5

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