Investigation of Babesia sp. in pygoscelid penguins at the South Shetland Islands

Babesia spp. are tick-borne parasites, and 16 avian-infecting species have been described to date, including one species (Babesia peircei) that infects penguins. Considering the results of a recent study reporting Babesia sp. in penguins on Deception Island, South Shetland Islands, we re-examined th...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Polar Research
Main Authors: Ralph Eric Thijl Vanstreels, Francisco C. Ferreira Junior, Daniela de Angeli Dutra, Sabrina Epiphanio, Érika M. Braga, Pierre A. Pistorius, José Luiz Catão-Dias
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Norwegian Polar Institute 2018
Subjects:
Antarctica
blood
seabird
Spheniscidae
tick-borne pathogen
Environmental sciences
GE1-350
Oceanography
GC1-1581
Antarctic
Deception Island
South Shetland Islands
Antarc*
antarcticus
Polar Research
Pygoscelis adeliae
Pygoscelis papua
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1080/17518369.2018.1500267
https://doaj.org/article/11bf9cc1bd754a6da86aae6f0f699d39
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Summary:Babesia spp. are tick-borne parasites, and 16 avian-infecting species have been described to date, including one species (Babesia peircei) that infects penguins. Considering the results of a recent study reporting Babesia sp. in penguins on Deception Island, South Shetland Islands, we re-examined the samples obtained in a previous investigation on the occurrence of blood parasites in adult Adélie (Pygoscelis adeliae), chinstrap (Pygoscelis antarcticus) and gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua) on King George and Elephant islands, South Shetland Islands. Notwithstanding a comprehensive re-examination of the blood smears, Babesia sp. was not detected. When we employed two nested PCR tests targeting the 18S rRNA gene of Babesia, a considerable proportion of the samples produced positive results; however, gene sequencing revealed these were due to cross-amplification of non-target organisms. We therefore did not detect Babesia sp. infection in penguins on King George and Elephant islands. Additional studies will be valuable to clarify the distribution and epidemiology of tick-borne pathogens in sub-Antarctic and Antarctic seabirds.

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