Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) in Antarctic fur seals Arctocephalus gazella

• Published in: Polar Biology
• Main Authors: Hernandez, Jorge, Prado, Valeria, Torres, Daniel, Waldenström, Jonas, Haemig, Paul D., Olsen, Bjorn
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Springer 2007
• Subjects: Ecology; Antarctic; Cape Shirreff; Shirreff; South Shetland Islands; The Antarctic; Antarc*; Antarctic Fur Seal; Antarctic Fur Seals; Arctocephalus gazella; Polar Biology
• Online Access: https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/688686; https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-007-0282-2

Rectal swabs were collected from Antarctic fur seal pups Arctocephalus gazella at Cape Shirreff, South Shetland Islands, and analyzed for the presence of anthropogenic pathogens. Two of the 33 pups tested positive for enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC). These samples are the first records of EPEC in Antarctic wildlife and suggest that more needs to be done to protect the Antarctic fauna from exotic anthropogenic pathogens.