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González-Acuña D, Llanos-Soto S, Oyarzún-Ruiz P, Kinsella JM, Barrientos C, Thomas R, Cicchino A, Moreno L. Parasites of the Neotropic cormorant Nannopterum (Phalacrocorax) brasilianus (Aves, Phalacrocoracidae) in Chile. REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE PARASITOLOGIA VETERINARIA 2020; 29:e003920. [PMID: 33027422 DOI: 10.1590/s1984-29612020049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2020] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The Neotropic cormorant Nannopterum (Phalacrocorax) brasilianus (Suliformes: Phalacrocoracidae) is widely distributed in Central and South America. In Chile, information about parasites for this species is limited to helminths and nematodes, and little is known about other parasite groups. This study documents the parasitic fauna present in 80 Neotropic cormorants' carcasses collected from 2001 to 2008 in Antofagasta, Biobío, and Ñuble regions. Birds were externally inspected for ectoparasites and necropsies were performed to examine digestive and respiratory organs in search of endoparasites. Ectoparasites collected were cleared and mounted for identification under a microscope. Fecal samples were also evaluated to determine the presence of protozoan parasites employing a flotation technique. A total of 44 (42.5%) of birds were infested with at least one ectoparasite species, while 77 (96.25%) were carrying endoparasites. No protozoan forms were found after examination. Most prevalent endoparasite species found were Contracaecum rudolphii s. l. (72/80, 90%), followed by Pectinopygus gyroceras (33/80, 41.25%), and Profilicollis altmani (26/80, 32.5%). This is the first report of P. altmani, Baruscapillaria carbonis, Avioserpens sp., Cyathostoma (Cyathostoma) phenisci, and Eidmaniella pelucida in the Neotropic cormorant. These findings also expand the distributional range of Andracantha phalacrocoracis, Paradilepis caballeroi, Hysteromorpha triloba, and P. gyroceras to Chile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel González-Acuña
- Laboratorio de Parásitos y Enfermedades de Fauna Silvestre, Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad de Concepción, Chillán, Chile
| | - Sebastián Llanos-Soto
- Laboratorio de Parásitos y Enfermedades de Fauna Silvestre, Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad de Concepción, Chillán, Chile.,Laboratorio de Vida Silvestre, Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad de Concepción, Chillán, Chile
| | - Pablo Oyarzún-Ruiz
- Laboratorio de Parásitos y Enfermedades de Fauna Silvestre, Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad de Concepción, Chillán, Chile
| | | | - Carlos Barrientos
- Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad Santo Tomás, Concepción, Chile
| | - Richard Thomas
- Laboratorio de Parásitos y Enfermedades de Fauna Silvestre, Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad de Concepción, Chillán, Chile
| | | | - Lucila Moreno
- Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
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Cardoso RNR, Baldassin P, Jerdy H, Carvalho EC, Kanarek G, Zaleśny G, Werneck MR. Causes of Fatal Cyathostomiasis in Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster) from Brazil: Identification of Pathogen and Implications for Management. J Parasitol 2020; 106:400-405. [PMID: 32294190 DOI: 10.1645/19-99] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Fatal infection by Cyathostoma (Cyathostoma) phenisci (Nematoda: Syngamidae), was identified in 2 of 52 brown boobies (Sula leucogaster) collected on beaches in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and admitted to the veterinary clinic for rehabilitation. Both infected birds were in poor physical condition, with atrophied pectoral muscles, and died soon after starting treatment. The parasitological and pathological examination of the carcasses revealed the presence of C. (C.) phenisci in the trachea, resulting in tracheitis, as well as severe parasitic granulomatous bronchopneumonia caused by eggs deposited in the lungs. In our opinion, these serious pathological changes were the primary cause of chronic respiratory illness. This is the first description of fatal cyathostomiasis in a fish-eating avian host caused by infection by a member of the subgenus Cyathostoma (Cyathostoma). Therefore, it is reasonable to consider C. (C.) phenisci to be a real threat to a wide range of their definitive hosts, and cyathostomiasis should be considered in the differential diagnosis for fish-eating marine birds, even in cases without respiratory signs. This is also the first record of the genus Cyathostoma in Brazil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafaela N R Cardoso
- CTA Serviços em Meio Ambiente, Rua Saturnino Rangel Mauro 283, Pontal de Camburi, Vitória, ES, CEP 29062-030, Brazil
| | - Paula Baldassin
- BW Veterinary Consulting, Rua Sueli Brazil Flores number 88, Praia Seca, Araruama, Rio de Janeiro State, CEP 28970-000, Brazil
| | - Hassan Jerdy
- Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro - UENF, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, CEP 28013-602, Brazil
| | - Eulogio C Carvalho
- Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro - UENF, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, CEP 28013-602, Brazil
| | - Gerard Kanarek
- Ornithological Station, Museum and Institute of Zoology Polish Academy of Sciences, Nadwiślańska 108, 80-680 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Grzegorz Zaleśny
- Department of Invertebrate Systematics and Ecology, University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Kożuchowska 5b, 51-631Wrocław, Poland
| | - Max Rondon Werneck
- BW Veterinary Consulting, Rua Sueli Brazil Flores number 88, Praia Seca, Araruama, Rio de Janeiro State, CEP 28970-000, Brazil
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Parasite diversity associated with African penguins (Spheniscus demersus) and the effect of host and environmental factors. Parasitology 2019; 146:791-804. [DOI: 10.1017/s0031182018002159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
AbstractThe African penguin (Spheniscus demersus) is a critically endangered species endemic to southern Africa. Limited information is available on the parasite diversity associated with the species in natural settings. This study explores the diversity and incidence of parasites associated with African penguins and their nests, and records the effect of host and environmental factors on parasite infestation. Ecto-, haemo- and helminth parasites were recorded from 210 adult birds, 583 chicks and 628 nests across five colonies (two mainland and three islands) along the south-western coast of South Africa, in 2016 and 2017. Mean nest density (total and active nests) and climate variables (temperature and precipitation) were obtained for each colony. Parapsyllus humboldti was the most abundant and prevalent ectoparasite on penguins and in nests (69.10 and 57.80%, respectively), while Piroplasmorida/Haemospororida (33.51%) and Cardiocephaloides spp. (56.17%) were the most prevalent haemo- and helminth parasites of penguins, respectively. In general parasite abundance and prevalence was significantly affected by penguin age (chicks vs adults), location (mainland vs islands), nest density (total and active nests) and season (spring vs autumn/winter). It is concluded that parasite infestations are structured and that penguin chicks at mainland colonies are more susceptible to parasite infestations during spring.
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Parsons NJ, Gous TA, Schaefer AM, Vanstreels RET. Health evaluation of African penguins ( Spheniscus demersus) in southern Africa. Onderstepoort J Vet Res 2016; 83:e1-e13. [PMID: 27796116 PMCID: PMC6238701 DOI: 10.4102/ojvr.v83i1.1147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2015] [Revised: 03/23/2016] [Accepted: 03/23/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The African penguin (Spheniscus demersus) is an endangered seabird that breeds along the coast of Namibia and South Africa, and disease surveillance was identified as a priority for its conservation. Aiming for the establishment of baseline data on the presence of potential pathogens in this species, a comprehensive health assessment (blood smear examination, haematology, biochemistry and serology) was conducted on samples obtained from 578 African penguins at 11 breeding colonies and a rehabilitation centre. There were 68 penguins that were seropositive for at least one of seven pathogens tested: avian encephalomyelitis virus, avian infectious bronchitis virus, avian reovirus, infectious bursal disease virus, Newcastle disease virus, Mycoplasma gallisepticum and Mycoplasma synoviae. All samples were seronegative for avian influenza virus subtypes H5 and H7 and infectious laryngotracheitis virus. The apparent prevalence of Babesia sp. and Borrelia sp. in blood smears was consistent with previous studies. Babesia-infected individuals had a regenerative response of the erythrocytic lineage, an active inflammatory response and hepatic function impairment. These findings indicate that African penguins may be exposed to conservation-significant pathogens in the wild and encourage further studies aiming for the direct detection and/or isolation of these microorganisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nola J Parsons
- Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds, Bloubergrant; Bayworld Centre for Research and Education, Port Elizabeth.
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Kanarek G, Zaleśny G, Sitko J, Rząd I. Taxonomic status of Syngamus nematodes parasitizing passeriform hosts from Central Europe: Morphological, morphometric and molecular identification. Parasitol Int 2016; 65:447-54. [PMID: 27353021 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2016.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2016] [Revised: 06/15/2016] [Accepted: 06/20/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The systematic position and validity of species within genus Syngamus have always been controversial. In this present work, we evaluated the taxonomic status and phylogenetic relationships between three species of Syngamus nematodes (Syngamus trachea, Syngamus taiga and Syngamus merulae) and one taxa, determined only to the generic level, collected from respiratory tracts of passeriform hosts from Central Europe using newly obtained sequences of 2 nuclear markers (internal transcribed spacers 1 and 2 [ITS1, ITS2]) and a fragment of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I [COI] gene. Our results clearly showed that S. trachea, S. taiga and S. merulae are valid, molecularly and morphologically distinct species. Moreover, molecular analysis of adult female of Syngamus sp. collected from tracheae of the European robin Erithacus rubecula clearly indicate that these comprise separate species. In the derived phylogeny, the Syngamus clade is divided into two sub-clades: one comprised Syngamus species with a characteristic, well-developed cuticular collar around the oral opening (S. trachea and S. taiga) and a second that groups taxa without or with rudimentary collar (S. merulae and currently sequenced Syngamus sp. from Erithacus rubecula). These results clearly suggest that the degree of collar development (well-developed vs. rudimentary/absent) may be an important phylogenetic feature for determining the structure of the genus Syngamus on subgeneric level. Additionally, our results support historical division of the genus Syngamus into two subgenera S. (Syngamus) and S. (Ornithogamus).
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerard Kanarek
- Ornithological Station, Museum and Institute of Zoology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Gdańsk, Poland.
| | - Grzegorz Zaleśny
- Institute of Biology, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wrocław, Poland
| | | | - Izabella Rząd
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection, Institute for Research on Biodiversity, University of Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland
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Kanarek G, Zaleśny G, Sitko J, Blanco AI. Taxonomic status of Cyathostoma nematodes (Nematoda: Syngaminae) parasitizing respiratory tracts of birds of prey and owls in Europe and North America: how many species are there? Helminthologia 2016. [DOI: 10.1515/helmin-2015-0066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Summary
So far, the identity of Cyathostoma (Hovorkonema) nematodes collected from respiratory tracts of birds of prey (Accipitriformes, Falconiformes) and owls (Strigiformes) in Europe and North America is extremely inconsistent. Our results, based on analyses of ITS-2 sequences suggest that the Cyathostoma (Hovorkonema) nematodes found in the birds of prey and owls from Central Europe and North America probably belong to the same species, C. (Hovorkonema) americanaChapin, 1925. We are convinced, that described in recent literature high ITS-2 divergence among C. (Hovorkonema) nematodes collected from Europe, has occurred as a result of invalid synonimisation of some C. (Hovorkonema) species. In our opinion C. (Hovorkonema) americana (typically parasites of tracheae and air sacs of raptors) and C. (Hovorkonema) variegatum (Creplin, 1849) (typically parasites of tracheae of cranes and storks) are valid molecular and morphologically distinct species.
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Affiliation(s)
- G. Kanarek
- Ornithological Station, Museum and Institute of Zoology Polish Academy of Sciences, Nadwiślańska 108, 80-680 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - G. Zaleśny
- Institute of Biology, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Kożuchowska 5b, 51-631Wrocław, Poland
| | - J. Sitko
- Comenius Museum, Horní nám. 7, 750 11 Přerov, Czech Republic
| | - A. I. Blanco
- Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA
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