Although knowledge about parasitic diseases in Antarctic birds is scarce, an increasing number of studies are currently being carried out in this area. The importance of the host-parasite relationship in Antarctic seabirds is key to understanding trophic ecology and epidemiology of infection diseases, especially in those birds with extensive migratory routes that can act as reservoirs and distributors of diseases. This study aims to provide information on helminths of two Storm Petrel species, the Wilson’s storm-petrel Oceanites oceanicus and the Black-bellied storm-petrel Fregetta tropica. Twenty individuals were analysed: 18 O. oceanicus (8 adults, 10 chicks) and 2 F. tropica (adults); 89% of the O. oceanicus were parasitized with the nematode Stegophorus macronectes, whereas 100% of F. tropica was parasitized by at least one of three parasite species identified: S. macronectes, Seuratiasp., and Tetrabothrius sp. The low richness of parasites observed is associated with a stenophagic diet. However, a clear difference is observed between both species related to a higher fish ingestion by F. tropica, unlike O. oceanicus with a higher ingestion of krill.
Anisakidae nematodes have a wide host and geographic distribution. Species of the genus Contracaecum parasitize aquatic organisms such as piscivorous birds and mammals as their definitive hosts. Several Contracaecum species have been reported parasitizing Phalacrocoracidae in South America. The aim of this work is to highlight phylogenetic relationships between Contracaecum species parasitizing shags based on both molecular markers and the papillae pattern arrangement on the male tail. Some Contracaecum specimens parasitizing Red-legged cormorants from the Ría Deseado (RD), and other nematodes parasitizing eight dead Neotropic cormorants from San Miguel del Monte lagoon (SMML), Argentina, were collected and analyzed. An integrative analysis allowed us to recognize Contracaecum chubutensis parasitizing Phalacrocorax gaimardi, and Contracaecum australe parasitic in Phalacrocorax brasilianus. According to obtained mtDNAcox2, ITS1, ITS2, and SSrRNA isolates, Contracaecum sp. parasitizing P. gaimardi matched with the previously reported C. chubutensis parasitizing P. atriceps from Bahía Bustamante, Chubut province. Likewise, Contracaecum sp. isolates parasitizing P. brasilianus clustered with C. australe from Chile. Besides, the papillae pattern arrangement of the male tail allowed us to understand the interspecific and genetic relationships between the Contracaecum species. The analysis confirm that C. chubutensis specimens parasitizing P. gaimardi from RD represent a new host and the southernmost record for the species. Whereas, those C. australe specimens parasitizing P. brasilianus from SMML provide a new geographical record for the species and the extension of its distribution range. Present results also confirm the inland and marine distribution of C. australe and C. chubutensis, respectively.
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