A retrospective analysis of mortality in captive Magellanic penguins (<i>Spheniscus magellanicus</i>) in the United States, 2008–2018

Krol, Lana; Moore, Robert P.; Mutlow, Adrian G.; Brady, Sean; Dorsa, Dominick

doi:10.1002/zoo.21561

Cited by 9 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 14 publications

(32 reference statements)

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“…is problematic because they are not sympatric in the wild, and are maintained at different climate conditions in captive settings ( AZA Penguin Taxon Advisory Group 2014 ). There is evidence that several other penguin species are susceptible to aspergillosis, such as Gentoo penguins (genus: Pygoscelis ; Flach et al 1990 ), Magellanic penguins (genus: Spheniscus ; Carrasco et al 2001 ; Xavier et al 2007 ; Krol et al 2020 ), and Little penguins (genus: Eudyptula ; Obendorf and McColl 1980 ; Hocken 2000 ). However, multiple other factors, such as environmental conditions and general health, are known to increase risk of mycoses ( Beernaert et al 2010 ), so elucidating the contribution of genetics to aspergillosis resistance is difficult.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adaptation and Cryptic Pseudogenization in Penguin Toll-Like Receptors

Fiddaman

Vinkler

Spiro

et al. 2021

Molecular Biology and Evolution

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Penguins (Sphenisciformes) are an iconic order of flightless, diving seabirds distributed across a large latitudinal range in the Southern Hemisphere. The extensive area over which penguins are endemic is likely to have fostered variation in pathogen pressure, which in turn will have imposed differential selective pressures on the penguin immune system. At the front line of pathogen detection and response, the Toll-like receptors (TLRs) provide insight into host evolution in the face of microbial challenge. TLRs respond to conserved pathogen-associated molecular patterns and are frequently found to be under positive selection, despite retaining specificity for defined agonist classes. We undertook a comparative immunogenetics analysis of TLRs for all penguin species, and found evidence of adaptive evolution that was largely restricted to the cell surface expressed TLRs, with evidence of positive selection at, or near, key agonist-binding sites in TLR1B, TLR4 and TLR5. Intriguingly, TLR15, which is activated by fungal products, appeared to have been pseudogenized multiple times in the Eudyptes spp., but a full-length form was present as a rare haplotype at the population level. However, in vitro analysis revealed that even the full-length form of Eudyptes TLR15 was non-functional, indicating an ancestral cryptic pseudogenization prior to its eventual disruption multiple times in the Eudyptes lineage. This unusual pseudogenization event could provide an insight into immune adaptation to fungal pathogens such as Aspergillus, which is responsible for significant mortality in wild and captive bird populations.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adaptation and Cryptic Pseudogenization in Penguin Toll-Like Receptors

Fiddaman

Vinkler

Spiro

et al. 2021

Molecular Biology and Evolution

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“…Moreover, aspergillosis seems more commonly diagnosed in juveniles – potentially more fragile birds – than adults ( Xavier et al., 2007 ; Terio et al., 2018 ; Cateau et al., 2022 ). Altogether, its relative prevalence can reach 20-27% in some penguin colonies under managed care ( Filho RP da et al., 2015 ; Krol et al., 2020 ), and its incidence was recently measured at ~3.4% case-years in a French zoological park ( Cateau et al., 2022 ). However, one should be aware that great discrepancies can be observed between centers depending on the occurrence variations of co-morbidities and the availability of diagnostic means of diagnosis (e.g.…”

Section: What Are the Options To Achieve A More Accurate Diagnosis In...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Challenges to establish the diagnosis of aspergillosis in non-laboratory animals: looking for alternatives in veterinary medicine and demonstration of feasibility through two concrete examples in penguins and dolphins

Désoubeaux

Cray

Chesnay

2022

Front. Cell. Infect. Microbiol.

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Aspergillosis remains difficult to diagnose in animals. Laboratory-based assays are far less developed than those for human medicine, and only few studies have been completed to validate their utility in routine veterinary diagnostics. To overcome the current limitations, veterinarians and researchers have to propose alternative methods including extrapolating from human diagnostic tools and using innovative technology. In the present overview, two specific examples were complementarily addressed in penguins and dolphins to illustrate how is challenging the diagnosis of aspergillosis in animals. Specific focus will be made on the novel application of simple testing in blood based on serological assays or protein electrophoresis and on the new information garnered from metabolomics/proteomics to discover potential new biomarkers. In conclusion, while the diagnostic approach of aspergillosis in veterinary medicine cannot be directly taken from options developed for human medicine, it can certainly serve as inspiration.

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“…Predisposing factors in birds include immunosuppression causes, genetic factors, nutritional (hypovitaminosis A), or infectious and toxic disorders (4,5). Penguins are among the most affected captive-bred bird species (6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Yearly fatal A. fumigatus cases affect approximately 10% of the penguin colony at ZooParc de Beauval in France (personal communication from author MT) and can represent 27% of all cause-mortality in some penguin colonies (12). Fungal loads in their environment settings are often quite high (15), making immunosuppressed or stressed individuals, particularly at risk of developing clinical aspergillosis (2), especially during the summer season (July-September) in the northern hemisphere (13,15).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of the Safety and Efficacy of an Oral Probiotic-Based Vaccine Against Aspergillus Infection in Captive-Bred Humboldt Penguins (Spheniscus humboldti)

et al. 2022

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Aspergillosis is a fungal infection caused mainly by Aspergillus fumigatus that often results in respiratory disease in birds. Aspergillosis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in captive-bred penguin species. Currently, there is no registered vaccine to prevent aspergillosis. Recent research demonstrated that oral administration of gram-negative bacteria expressing high levels of galactose-α-1,3-galactose (α-Gal) modulates anti-α-Gal immunity and protects turkeys from clinical aspergillosis caused by experimental A. fumigatus infection. The role of anti-α-Gal immunity in penguins has not been studied. Here, we tested the distribution of α-1,3-galactosyltransferase (α1,3GT) genes in the fecal microbiome of Humboldt penguins (Spheniscus humboldti). The occurrence of natural anti-α-Gal antibodies (Abs) in sera and eggs of healthy Humboldt penguins was also assessed. A trial was then conducted to test whether oral administration of Escherichia coli Nissle, expressing high α-Gal levels, modulates anti-α-Gal immunity in a colony of Humboldt penguins. Animals in the vaccination and placebo groups were evaluated before the trial and followed for one year for aspergillosis detection using a diagnostic panel including computed tomography scans, capillary zone electrophoresis, 3-hydroxybutyrate levels, and anti-A. fumigatus Abs. Anti-α-Gal Abs were detected in sera (IgM and IgY) and eggs (IgY) of healthy penguins. Microbiota analysis and functional predictions revealed the presence of α1,3GT genes in the microbiota of Humboldt penguins and other penguin species. A strong decrease in anti-α-Gal IgM levels was observed in all animals in the placebo group three months after vaccination protocol. This decrease was not observed in E. coli Nissle-treated penguins. After the vaccination protocol, we found a positive correlation between anti-E. coli IgY and anti-α-Gal IgY in the E. coli Nissle group, suggesting a correlation between the presence of the bacteria and these Abs. During the study period, three penguins exhibited respiratory signs consistent with aspergillosis. Two were from the placebo group whose symptoms resolved with specific treatments, while a single vaccinated individual developed fatal respiratory aspergillosis eight months after the trial. We conclude that E. coli Nissle represents a safe potential probiotic with a protective effect against aspergillosis in Humboldt penguins that deserves to be further explored for therapeutic uses in these animals.

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A retrospective analysis of mortality in captive Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) in the United States, 2008–2018

Cited by 9 publications

References 14 publications

Adaptation and Cryptic Pseudogenization in Penguin Toll-Like Receptors

Adaptation and Cryptic Pseudogenization in Penguin Toll-Like Receptors

Challenges to establish the diagnosis of aspergillosis in non-laboratory animals: looking for alternatives in veterinary medicine and demonstration of feasibility through two concrete examples in penguins and dolphins

Assessment of the Safety and Efficacy of an Oral Probiotic-Based Vaccine Against Aspergillus Infection in Captive-Bred Humboldt Penguins (Spheniscus humboldti)

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