Ecological aspects of helminth fauna of Magellanic penguins, Spheniscus magellanicus (aves: Spheniscidae), from the Northern Coast of the State of São Paulo, Brazil

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the helminth fauna found in the Magellanic penguin, Spheniscus magellanicus, relating parasite population and community ecological parameters to life aspects of the host species. The study involved 237 specimens of S. magellanicus taken from the northern shore of the state of São Paulo (23° 46' S, 45° 57' W) and southern shore of the state of Rio de Janeiro (23° 02' S, 44° 13' W), Brazil. The following helminth fauna were found: the nematode Contracaecum pelagicum (core species), found in the stomach; the digenetic Cardiocephaloides physalis and the cestode Tetrabothrius lutzi (satellite species), both collected from the initial portion of the small intestine. Comparisons using the Shannon Diversity Index revealed that the parasite community in juvenile penguins is less diverse in the migratory season than the breeding season. Parasitological studies on penguins and other migratory animals provide important information on species during the time in which they remain pelagic and constitute a useful tool for the acquisition of data that is difficult to obtain through other means, thereby favoring the conservation of the species.Keywords: helminth fauna, ecological parameters, latitudinal variation. Os resultados obtidos permitem inferir que estudos parasitológicos em pinguins, assim como em outros animais migratórios, podem fornecer informações importantes a respeito da espécie durante a época em que permanece pelágica, tornando-se uma ferramenta útil na aquisição de informações dificilmente obtidas por outros meios e favorecendo, dessa forma, a conservação da espécie. Aspectos ecológicos da helmintofauna de pinguins dePalavras-chave: helmintofauna, parâmetros ecológicos, variação latitudinal.

Comparative morphometric evaluation of hepatic hemosiderosis in wild Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) infected with different Plasmodium spp. subgenera

“…The Magellanic penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus) breeds in colonies located on the coasts of Chile, Argentina, and the Falkland (Malvinas) Islands. During their winter migration, individuals from the Atlantic Ocean colonies migrate along the continental shelf of northern Argentina, Uruguay, and southern Brazil (STOKES et al, 2014), where they face many challenges (PETRY & FONSECA, 2002;GARCÍA-BORBOROGLU et al, 2006;BRANDÃO et al, 2011;BALDASSIN et al, 2012;REZENDE et al, 2013;KEHRIG et al, 2015). Birds stranded alive are rescued and referred to local rehabilitation centers along the Brazilian coast (GARCÍA-BORBOROGLU et al, 2010;RODRIGUES et al, 2010;RUOPPOLO et al, 2012) While under rehabilitation, these birds may be exposed to avian malaria, one of the most significant threats to the conservation of penguins, able to seriously compromise their survival in captivity (JONES & SHELLAM, 1999;VANSTREELS et al, 2016).…”

Molecular and morphological characterization of Contracaecum pelagicum (Nematoda) parasitizing Spheniscus magellanicus (Chordata) from Brazilian waters

“…The species was first described from albatrosses from Australia and, since then the species was reported in South America from Thalassarche melanophris (=Diomedea melanophris (Temminck, 1828), the South American penguin, Spheniscus magellanicus (Forster, 1781), Spheniscus humboldti Meyen, 1834 and Sula leucogaster Boddaert, 1783 (LENT;FREITAS, 1948;SANTOS, 1984;MANN, 1992;SILVA et al, 2005;GARBIN et al, 2007;GONZÁLEZ-ACUÑA et al, 2008;EDERLI et al, 2009;DIAZ et al, 2010;PRADO et al, 2011;YÁÑEZ et al, 2012;REZENDE et al, 2013;CAMPOS et al, 2013).…”

POPULATION STRUCTURE OF THE NEMATODE Contracaecum pelagicum JOHNSTON & MAWSON, 1942 DURING THE WINTER MIGRATION OF THE MAGELLANIC PENGUIN Spheniscus magellanicus (FORSTER, 1781) IN SOUTHERN BRAZIL

“…Contracaecum pelagicum was the only nematode species found in the gastrointestinal tract of S. magellanicus specimens collected on beaches in Paraná and Rio Grande do Sul states, southern Brazil, during the winter migration. Although C. plagiaticium Lent &Fr eitas, 1948 andCosmocephalus obvelatus (Creplin, 1825) have also been reported in Magellanic penguins from other regions (Pazos et al 2003, C. pelagicum is the most common nematode parasite reported for this species (e.g., Pazos et al 2003, Ederli et al 2009, Diaz et al 2010, Prado et al 2011, Rezende et al 2013. Table 2.…”

“…4ºS) (Dantas et al 2013). Contracaecum pelagicum was the only nematode observed parasitizing the gastrointestinal tract of the Magellanic penguins found dead on the beaches of the southeastern Brazil so far (Santos 1984, Ederli et al 2009, Prado et al 2011, Rezende et al 2013, Borges et al 2014.…”