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Determinants of external and blood parasite load in African penguins (Spheniscus demersus) admitted for rehabilitation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2020

Albert Snyman ,
Ralph Eric Thijl Vanstreels Open the ORCID record for Ralph Eric Thijl Vanstreels [Opens in a new window] ,
Chandré Nell ,
Adam M. Schaefer Open the ORCID record for Adam M. Schaefer [Opens in a new window] ,
Thomas Stracke ,
Nola J. Parsons Open the ORCID record for Nola J. Parsons [Opens in a new window] ,
Katrin Ludynia Open the ORCID record for Katrin Ludynia [Opens in a new window]  and
Pierre A. Pistorius Open the ORCID record for Pierre A. Pistorius [Opens in a new window]
Albert Snyman
Affiliation:
Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds, Cape Town, South Africa
Ralph Eric Thijl Vanstreels*
Affiliation:
Marine Apex Predator Research Unit, Institute for Coastal and Marine Research, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa Department of Zoology, DST/NRF Centre of Excellence at the FitzPatrick Institute for African Ornithology, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Chandré Nell
Affiliation:
Marine Apex Predator Research Unit, Institute for Coastal and Marine Research, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Adam M. Schaefer
Affiliation:
Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, Florida Atlantic University, Fort Pierce, Florida, USA
Thomas Stracke
Affiliation:
Christchurch Penguin Rehabilitation, Wildlife Rehabilitators Network of New Zealand, Christchurch, New Zealand
Nola J. Parsons
Affiliation:
Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds, Cape Town, South Africa
Katrin Ludynia
Affiliation:
Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds, Cape Town, South Africa Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
Pierre A. Pistorius
Affiliation:
Marine Apex Predator Research Unit, Institute for Coastal and Marine Research, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa Department of Zoology, DST/NRF Centre of Excellence at the FitzPatrick Institute for African Ornithology, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa
*
Author for correspondence: Ralph Eric Thijl Vanstreels, E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

We investigate the factors associated with the occurrence and abundance of external and blood parasites in African penguins (Spheniscus demersus), an endangered seabird that breeds exclusively on the coasts of Namibia and South Africa. External parasites were collected using the dust-ruffling method from 171 African Penguins admitted at a rehabilitation facility in the Western Cape, South Africa. Additionally, blood smears were obtained upon admission and weekly during rehabilitation and examined for blood parasites. Fleas Parapsyllus longicornis humboldti, ticks Ornithodoros capensis and lice Austrogoniodes demersus were recovered from 93, 63 and 40%, respectively, of the penguins upon admission to the centre. Rescue location and age group were identified as significant determinants of flea abundance, whereas month of admission was a significant determinant of tick abundance. Blood parasites were also common on admission, with Babesia being the most frequent (46% prevalence) whereas Borrelia was recorded sporadically (1.2%) and Plasmodium was recorded once. The prevalence and abundance of ticks on admission was positively associated with Babesia infection on admission. Our findings demonstrate the variability and contributing factor of parasite infections in an endangered species of penguin, and highlight the need for additional research on the parasite–host dynamics involving these potential disease vectors.

Keywords

Ectoparasitesenvironmental factorshaemoparasitesseabirdSpheniscidaevector-borne pathogens
Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 147 , Issue 5 , April 2020 , pp. 577 - 583
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press

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Footnotes

*

These authors contributed equally to this work.

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