Gastrointestinal helminths of Adélie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) from Antarctica

  • Julia Inés Diaz Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores (CEPAVE) (CCT La Plata-CONICET-UNLP), La Plata, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina
  • Bruno Fusaro Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores (CEPAVE) (CCT La Plata-CONICET-UNLP), La Plata, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina
  • Lucrecia Longarzo Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores (CEPAVE) (CCT La Plata-CONICET-UNLP), La Plata, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina
  • Néstor Rubén Coria Instituto Antártico Argentino, Dirección Nacional del Antártico, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina
  • Virginia Vidal Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
  • Verónica D'Amico Centro Nacional Patagónico (CENPAT, CONICET), Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina
  • Andrés Barbosa Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC) Madrid, Spain.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3402/polar.v35.28516
Keywords: Parorchites zederi, Stegophorus macronectes, Tetrameres sp., parasites, ecosystem health

Abstract

Knowledge about parasitic organisms in Antarctica is scarce and fragmentary. The study reported here adds to the knowledge of gastrointestinal parasites of the Adélie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) (Sphenisciformes), from 25 de Mayo/King George Island (South Shetlands), Bahia Esperanza (Hope Bay) and Avian Island (Antarctica). Thirty-five freshly dead specimens (20 chicks and 15 adults) were collected from December 2007 to December 2014 and examined for internal macroparasites. Three adult parasite species were found: one Cestoda, Parorchites zederi, and two Nematoda, Stegophorus macronectes and Tetrameres sp. Immature Tetrabothrius sp. were found in hosts from Avian Island. Helminth communities are known to be related to host feeding behaviours. Low parasite richness observed in Adélie penguins could be related to the stenophagic and pelagic diet of this host species, which feeds almost exclusively on krill.

Keywords: Parorchites zederi; Stegophorus macronectes; Tetrameres sp.; parasites; ecosystem health.

(Published: 16 June 2016)

Citation: Polar Research 2016, 35, 28516,http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/polar.v35.28516

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Published
2016-06-16
How to Cite
Diaz J. I., Fusaro B., Longarzo L., Coria N. R., Vidal V., D’Amico V., & Barbosa A. (2016). Gastrointestinal helminths of Adélie penguins (<em>Pygoscelis adeliae</em&gt;) from Antarctica. Polar Research, 35. https://doi.org/10.3402/polar.v35.28516
Issue
Vol 35 (2016)
Section
Research/review articles

Authors contributing to Polar Research retain copyright of their work, with first publication rights granted to the Norwegian Polar Institute. Read the journal's full Copyright- and Licensing Policy.

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