Avian Malaria (<i>Plasmodium</i> spp.) in Captive Magellanic Penguins (<i>Spheniscus magellanicus</i>) from Northern Argentina, 2010

Vanstreels, Ralph Eric Thijl; Capellino, F.; Balthazar, Patricia; Braga, Érika Martins; Rodriguez-Heredia, Sergio; Loureiro, Julio D.; Catão‐Dias, José Luiz

doi:10.7589/2015-08-219

Cited by 11 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…infections in Valdivia, Chile (39°49′S) (Carvajal and Alvarado, 2009), and San Clemente del Tuyú, Argentina (36°20′S) (Vanstreels et al . 2016 b ), whereas all studies have failed to detect blood parasites in wild Magellanic penguins sampled south of 40°S (Fig. 1).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Geographic distribution of studies investigating the occurrence of blood parasites in Magellanic penguins in relation to the species' natural distribution and historical precipitation data. (Vanstreels et al 2016b), whereas all studies have failed to detect blood parasites in wild Magellanic penguins sampled south of 40°S (Fig. 1).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…2010; Vanstreels et al . 2016 b ) and in wild specimens undergoing rehabilitation in Chile (Carvajal and Alvarado, 2009) and Brazil (Silveira et al . 2013; Cabana et al .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Do blood parasites infect Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) in the wild? Prospective investigation and climatogeographic considerations

et al. 2017

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Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) are native to Argentina, Chile and the Falkland Islands. Magellanic penguins are highly susceptible to blood parasites such as the mosquito-borne Plasmodium spp., which have been documented causing high morbidity and mortality in zoos and rehabilitation centres. However, to date no blood parasites have been detected in wild Magellanic penguins, and it is not clear whether this is reflective of their true absence or is instead related to an insufficiency in sampling effort or a failure of the diagnostic methods. We examined blood smears of 284 Magellanic penguins from the Argentinean coast and tested their blood samples with nested polymerase chain reaction tests targeting Haemoproteus, Plasmodium, Leucocytozoon and Babesia. No blood parasites were detected. Analysing the sampling effort of previous studies and the climatogeography of the region, we found there is strong basis to conclude that haemosporidians do not infect wild Magellanic penguins on the Argentinean coast. However, at present it is not possible to determine whether such parasites occur on the Chilean coast and at the Falkland Islands. Furthermore, it is troubling that the northward distribution expansion of Magellanic penguins and the poleward distribution shift of vectors may lead to novel opportunities for the transmission of blood parasites.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

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Do blood parasites infect Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) in the wild? Prospective investigation and climatogeographic considerations

et al. 2017

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“…schizonts and mixed inflammatory infiltrates in mainly liver and spleen, avian malaria was diagnosed (Tm 1–3, 5) [3,4]. However, when birds had myocardial degeneration (Tm 4) or encephalitis (Tm 7–8, Sn 4), tissues were submitted for USUV RT-PCR.…”

Section: Outbreak In Birdsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Widespread Usutu virus outbreak in birds in the Netherlands, 2016

et al. 2016

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We report a widespread Usutu virus outbreak in birds in the Netherlands. Viral presence had been detected through targeted surveillance as early as April 2016 and increased mortality in common blackbirds and captive great grey owls was noticed from August 2016 onwards. Usutu virus infection was confirmed by post-mortem examination and RT-PCR. Extensive Usutu virus activity in the Netherlands in 2016 underlines the need to monitor mosquito activity and mosquito-borne infections in 2017 and beyond.

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“…The birds revealed a massive infestation of exoerythrocytic meronts of Plasmodium parasites in various organs including the brain, spleen and lungs. The majority of cited studies or case reports have shown that avian haemosporidian parasites can be dangerous not only for non-adapted bird species like, for example, penguins [ 24 ] or endemic Hawaiian honeycreepers of the Drepaniidae [ 9 ] that did not co-evolve with these parasites, but also in bird species, which have been evolutionarily exposed to these infections for long periods, for example, the blackbird Turdus merula in Europe [ 15 ]. Based on limited available experimental data and scarce case reports from wildlife, it is difficult to estimate how many individuals from certain populations get malaria infections, how many of them survive, and what are the behavioural changes in the parasitized birds.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Strategy to Survive Primary Malaria Infection: An Experimental Study on Behavioural Changes in Parasitized Birds

et al. 2016

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Avian malaria parasites (Haemosporida, Plasmodium) are of cosmopolitan distribution, and they have a significant impact on vertebrate host fitness. Experimental studies show that high parasitemia often develops during primary malaria infections. However, field studies only occasionally reveal high parasitemia in free-living birds sampled using the traditional methods of mist-netting or trapping, and light chronic infections predominate. The reason for this discrepancy between field observation and experimental data remains insufficiently understood. Since mist-netting is a passive capture method, two main parameters determine its success in sampling infected birds in wildlife, i. e. the presence of parasitized birds at a study site and their mobility. In other words, the trapping probability depends on the survival rate of birds and their locomotor activity during infection. Here we test (1) the mortality rate of wild birds infected with Plasmodium relictum (the lineage pSGS1), (2) the changes in their behaviour during presence of an aerial predator, and (3) the changes in their locomotor activity at the stage of high primary parasitemia.We show that some behavioural features which might affect a bird's survival during a predator attack (time of reaction, speed of flush flight and take off angle) did not change significantly during primary infection. However, the locomotor activity of infected birds was almost halved compared to control (non-infected) birds during the peak of parasitemia. We report (1) the markedly reduced mobility and (2) the 20% mortality rate caused by P. relictum and conclude that these factors are responsible for the underrepresentation of birds in mist nets and traps during the stage of high primary parasitemia in wildlife. This study indicates that the widespread parasite, P. relictum (pSGS1) influences the behaviour of birds during primary parasitemia. Experimental studies combined with field observations are needed to better understand the mechanisms of pathogenicity of avian malaria parasites and their influence on bird populations.

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Avian Malaria (Plasmodium spp.) in Captive Magellanic Penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) from Northern Argentina, 2010

Cited by 11 publications

References 9 publications

Do blood parasites infect Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) in the wild? Prospective investigation and climatogeographic considerations

Do blood parasites infect Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) in the wild? Prospective investigation and climatogeographic considerations

Widespread Usutu virus outbreak in birds in the Netherlands, 2016

The Strategy to Survive Primary Malaria Infection: An Experimental Study on Behavioural Changes in Parasitized Birds

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