Presence of parasites in pinnipeds from the Antarctic Peninsula
The Antarctic region is the most isolated on earth. Recently, it has been recognised as a place worthy of very high standards of environmental protection. However, the constant human intromission and the worldwide environmental degradation have been identified as serious risks in the introduction an...
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| Other Authors: | , |
| Format: | Doctoral or Postdoctoral Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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Universidad Complutense de Madrid
2013
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| Online Access: | https://eprints.ucm.es/id/eprint/22236/ https://eprints.ucm.es/id/eprint/22236/1/T34547.pdf |
| Summary: | The Antarctic region is the most isolated on earth. Recently, it has been recognised as a place worthy of very high standards of environmental protection. However, the constant human intromission and the worldwide environmental degradation have been identified as serious risks in the introduction and spread of diseases, exerting an influence on health of Antarctic wildlife. With regard to this topic, marine mammals have been described as prime sentinels of aquatic ecosystems. Pinnipeds are the most conspicuous marine mammal group in the Antarctic region and they might therefore provide an approach to evaluate the health of this singular ecosystem. Research in pinnipeds has resulted in a compilation of data of emerging and reemerging diseases, some of them caused by parasites. However, whereas the information is substantial in worldwide populations, in the Antarctic and the Sub Antarctic regions is currently limited. To contribute with further information and in response to the demands of the Antarctic Treaty System, the main objective of this Doctoral Thesis has been to evaluate health status of Antarctic pinnipeds through the investigation of the presence of relevant parasites in marine mammal populations. For this purpose, faecal and blood samples of the phocids Weddell seals, Crabeater seals, Leopard seals, Southern elephant seals and the otariid Antarctic fur seals from different locations along the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands have been analysed. In the first part of the study, the presence of the systemic zoonotic protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii was investigated (Chapter 2). In marine mammals, infections with T. gondii cause morbidity and mortality and although the route of infection for these animals is not known, environmental contamination plays a crucial role. Exposure to T. gondii in different Antarctic pinnipeds was evaluated by means of a serological test. Antibodies were detected in all populations analysed although higher percentages and highest titres were found in Southern ... |
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