Detection and Characterization of a Cryptosporidium Isolate from a Southern Elephant Seal (Mirounga leonina) from the Antarctic Peninsula ▿

• Published in: Applied and Environmental Microbiology
• Main Authors: Rengifo-Herrera, C., Ortega-Mora, L. M., Gómez-Bautista, M., García-Moreno, F. T., García-Párraga, D., Castro-Urda, J., Pedraza-Díaz, S.
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: American Society for Microbiology (ASM) 2011
• Subjects: Environmental Microbiology; Antarctic; Antarctic Peninsula; The Antarctic; Antarc*; Elephant Seal; Mirounga leonina; Southern Elephant Seal
• Online Access: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3067219; http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21169427; https://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.01422-10

The presence of Cryptosporidium and Giardia in 221 fecal samples from different species of Antarctic pinnipeds was investigated by immunofluorescence microscopy and PCR. Cryptosporidium, a skunk-like genotype, was detected only in a southern elephant seal. Giardia was not detected. This is the first report of a Cryptosporidium sp. in Antarctic marine mammals.