Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Gastrointestinal helminths of Gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua) from Stranger Point, 25 de Mayo/King George Island, Antarctica

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Parasitology Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The aim of this work is to contribute to the knowledge of gastrointestinal parasites of the Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) from 25 de Mayo/King George Island (South Shetlands, Antarctica). Gastrointestinal tracts of 37 fresh dead individuals (21 chicks, 10 juveniles, and 6 adults) were collected from December 2006 to February 2012 and examined for macroparasites. Four adult parasite species were found: one Cestoda species (Parorchites zederi), two Nematoda species (Stegophorus macronectes and Tetrameres wetzeli), and one Acanthocephalan (Corynosoma shackletoni). Two species of immature acanthocephalans, Corynosoma hamanni and Corynosoma bullosum, were found in a single host. This is the first record of Tetrameres wetzeli in Gentoo penguins. The low parasite richness observed could be related to the stenophagic and pelagic diet of this host species which feeds almost exclusively on krill.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Anderson RC (2000) In: CAB International (ed) Nematode Parasite of Vertebrates. Their development and Transmission, 2nd edn. Oxon, Wallingford,UK, 650 p

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Bush AO, Lafferty KD, Lotz JM, Shostak AW (1997) Parasitology meets ecology on its own terms: Margolis et al. revisited. J Parasitol 83:575–583

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Barbosa A, Palacios MJ (2009) Health of Antarctic birds: a revision of their parasites, pathogens and diseases. Polar Biol 32:1095–1115

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barbraud C, Weimerskirch H (2006) Antarctic birds breed later in response to climate change. Proc Natl Acad Sci 103:6248–6251

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Berón MP, Coria NR, Favero M (2002) Monitoreo de la dieta post-reproductiva del pingüino Papua (Pygoscelis papua) en Isla Laurie (Orcadas Del Sur, Antartida): periodo 1997–1999. Ornitol Neotrop 13:413–422

    Google Scholar 

  • Boersma PD (2008) Penguins as marine sentinels. Bioscience 58:597–607

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cielecka D, Wojciechowska A, Zdzitowiecki K (1992) Cestodes from penguins on King George Island (South Shetlands, Antarctic). Acta Parasitol 37:65–72

    Google Scholar 

  • Croxall JP, Prince ED (1980) Food, feeding ecology and ecological segregation of seabirds at south Georgia. Biol J Linn Soc 14:103–131

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Daszak P, Cunningham AA, Hyatt AD (2000) Emerging infectious diseases of wildlife: threats to biodiversity and human health. Science 287:443–449. doi:10.1126/science.287.5452.443

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Diaz JI, Cremonte F, Navone GT (2010a) Helminths of the Magellanic penguin, Spheniscus magellanicus (Sphenisciformes), during the breeding season in Patagonian Coast, Chubut, Argentina. Comp Parasitol 77:172–177

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diaz JI, Fusaro B, Longarzo L et al (2010b) Parásitos gastrointestinales de pingüinos del género Pygoscelis en la isla 25 de Mayo. Antártida. Dissertation I Congreso Latinoamericano de Conservación de la Biodiversidad. Tafí del Valle, Tucumán, Argentina

    Google Scholar 

  • Fonteneau F, Geiger S, Marion L, Le Maho Y, Robin JP, Kinsella JM (2011) Gastrointestinal helminths of King penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus) at Crozet Archipelago. Polar Biol 34:1249–1252. doi:10.1007/s00300-011-0970-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fredes F, Raffo E, Muñoz P, Herrera M (2006) Fauna parasitaria gastrointestinal en polluelos de Pinguino Papua (Pygoscelis papua) encontrados muertos en zona antártica especialmente protegida (ZAEP Nº150). Paras Latin 61:179–182

    Google Scholar 

  • Fredes F, Madariaga M, RaVo E, Valencia J, Herrera M, Godoy C, Alcaíno H (2007) Gastrointestinal parasite fauna of Gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua) from the Península Munita, Bahía Paraíso, Antarctica. Antarctic Sci 19:93–94

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoberg EP (1986) Aspects of ecology and biogeography of Acanthocephala in Antarctic seabirds. Ann Parasit Hum Comp 61:199–214

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoberg EP (2005) Economic, environmental and medical importance: marine birds and their helminth parasites. In: Rohde K (ed) Marine Parasitology. CSIRO, Sydney, Australia, pp 414–421

    Google Scholar 

  • Ippen R, Odening K, Henne D (1981) Cestoden (Parorchites zederi) und Sarkosporidienbefall (Sarcocystis sp.) bei Penguinen der Slid-Shetland Inseln. Verhandl. des XXIII. Int. Symp. Erkrankungen Zootiere Halle/Saale. Akademischer Verlag Berlin, pp 203–210

  • Johnston TH, Mawson PM (1945) Parasitic nematodes. BANZARE V(2):73–160, Reports, Series B

    Google Scholar 

  • Kerry K, Riddle M, Clarke K (1999) Diseases of Antarctic wildlife. A report for SCAR and COMNAP, SCAR

  • Laskowski Z, Zdzitowiecki K (2005) The helminth fauna of some notothenioid fishes collected from the shelf of Argentine Islands, west Antarctica. Pol Polar Res 26:315–324

    Google Scholar 

  • Laskowski Z, Korczak-Abshire M, Zdzitowiecki K (2012) Changes in acanthocephalan infection of the Antarctic fish Notothenia coriiceps in Admiralty Bay, King George Island, over 29 years. Pol Polar Res 33:99–108

    Google Scholar 

  • Libertelli MM, Juares MA, Santos MM, Favero M, Coria NR (2010) Variation in the diet of Gentoo Penguin at Cierva Point and Esperanza Bay (Antarctic Peninsula) and Stranger Point (South Shetland Islands). A report for SCAR, Antarctica, 24

    Google Scholar 

  • Lozano GA (1991) Optimal foraging theory: a possible role for parasites. Oikos 60:391–395

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lynch HJ, Naveen R, Trathan PN, Fagan WF (2012) Spatially integrated assessment reveals widespread changes in penguin populations on the Antarctic Peninsula. Ecology 93:1367–1377

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mawson P (1953) Parasitic Nematoda collected by the Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition: Heard Island and Mcquarie Island, 1948–1951. Parasitology 43:291–297

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Miller AK, Karnowsky NJ, Trivelpiece WZ (2009) Flexible foraging strategies of Gentoo penguins Pygoscelis papua over 5 years in the South Shetlands Islands, Antarctica. Mar Biol 156:2527–2537

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prudhoe S (1969) Cestodes from fish, birds and whales. British Australian New Zealand Antarctic Research Expedition Reports, Ser. B VIII, Part. 9

  • Schmidt H (1965) Tetrameres (G.) wetzeli sp. n. (Nematoda, Spirurida), eine neue Tetrameresart aus dem Felsenpinguin, Eudyptes (= Catarrhactes) chrysocome Forst (Aves, Sphenisciformes). Z f Parasitenkunde 26:71–81

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Taraschewski H (2005) Helminth parasites: Acanthocephala (thorny or spiny-headed worms). In: Rohde K (ed) Marine Parasitology. CSIRO, Sydney, Australia, pp 116–122

    Google Scholar 

  • Turner J, Bindschadler R, Convey P, di Prisco G, Fahrbach E, Gutt J, Hogdson D, Mayewski P, Summerhayes C (2009) Antarctic climate change and the environment. SCAR, Cambridge UK

    Google Scholar 

  • Tzvetkov Y, Kril A, Georgiev BB, Chipev NH (1999) Morphology of lesions in the intestinal wall of the Gentoo penguin, Pygoscelis papua, caused by Parorchites zederi (Cestoda: Dilepididae). In: Golemansky V, Chipev N (eds) Bulgarian Antarctic Research. Life Sciences, 2nd edn. Pensoft Publishers, Sofia and Moscow, pp 62–67

    Google Scholar 

  • Vidal V, Ortiz J, Diaz JI et al (2012) Gastrointestinal parasites in chinstrap penguins from Deception Island, South Shetlands, Antarctica. Parasitol Res 111:723–727. doi:10.1007/s00436-012-2892-z

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Warner RE (1968) The role of introduced diseases in the extinction of the endemic Hawaiian avifauna. Condor 70:101–120

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Williams TD (1995) The penguins. Spheniscidae. (Birds Families of the Word, No 2). Oxford University Press. 328 p

  • Woelher EJ (1993) The distribution and abundance of Antarctic and subantarctic penguins. Scientific communication on Antarctic Research, Cambridge, pp 11–13

    Google Scholar 

  • Woods R, Jones HI, Watts J, Miller GD, Shellam GR (2009) Diseases of Antarctic seabirds. In: Kerry KR, Riddle MJ (eds) Health of Antarctic wildlife: a challenge for science and policy. Biomedical and Life science (subject collection). Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg, pp 35–55

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Zdzitowiecki K (1984) Some Antarctic acanthocephalans of the genus Corynosoma parasitizing Pinnipedia, with descriptions of three new species. Acta Parasitol 29:359–377

    Google Scholar 

  • Zdzitowiecki K (1985) Acanthocephalans of the birds from South Shetlands (Antarctic). Acta Parasitol 30:11–24

    Google Scholar 

  • Zdzitowiecki K (1986) Acanthocephalans of the Antarctic. Acta Parasitol 78–117

  • Zdzitowiecki K (1991) Synopses of the Antarctic Benthos Koenigstein Koeltz Scientific Books. Antarctic Acanthocephala, Koenigstein, Alemania, 116 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Zdzitowiecki K, Drózdz J (1980) Redescription of Stegophorus macronectes (Johnston et Mawson, 1942) and description of Stegophorus arctowskii sp. n. (Nematoda, Spirurida) from birds of South Shetlands (the Antarctic). Acta Parasitol 26:205–212

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We very much appreciate the hospitality and logistic support of the Argentinean Antarctic Base “Carlini.” We especially thank the Argentinean transports and the Spanish Polar Ship “Las Palmas” which provided us transport to the Antarctic Base. We also thank the logistic support provided by the Instituto Antártico Argentino and the Maritime Technology Unit (CSIC). We thank Dr. John Mike Kinsella for English revision and the critical reading of the manuscript. Financial support was given by the Dirección Nacional del Antártico, the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, and European Regional Development Fund (projects CGL2004-01348, POL2006-05175, and CGL2007-60369). Permission to work in the Antarctic study area and for penguin handling was given by Dirección Nacional del Antártico and the Spanish Polar Committee. JID is partially supported by PICT309 (ANPCyT) and N628 (UNLP). VV was supported by a PhD grant from the Spanish Council of Scientific Research (JAEPre08-01053). This is a contribution to the International Polar Year project 172 BirdHealth and to PINGUCLIM project.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores (CCT La Plata-CONICET-UNLP), Calle 2 No. 584, 1900, La Plata, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina

    Julia Inés Diaz, Bruno Fusaro & Lucrecia Longarzo

  2. Departamento Biología de Predadores Tope, Instituto Antártico Argentino, DNA, Balcarce, C1064AAF, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Néstor Rubén Coria

  3. Departamento de Sanidad Animal (Parasitología), Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Murcia, Espinardo, 30100, Murcia, Spain

    Virginia Vidal & Juana Ortiz

  4. Área de Toxicología, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100, Murcia, Spain

    Silvia Jerez

  5. Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC), C/José Gutierrez Abascal, 2, Madrid, 28006, Spain

    Andrés Barbosa

Authors
  1. Julia Inés Diaz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Bruno Fusaro
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Lucrecia Longarzo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Néstor Rubén Coria
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Virginia Vidal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Silvia Jerez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Juana Ortiz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Andrés Barbosa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Julia Inés Diaz.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Diaz, J.I., Fusaro, B., Longarzo, L. et al. Gastrointestinal helminths of Gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua) from Stranger Point, 25 de Mayo/King George Island, Antarctica. Parasitol Res 112, 1877–1881 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-013-3341-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-013-3341-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation