@inbook {94321, title = {Macroparasites in Antarctic Penguins}, booktitle = {Biodiversity and Evolution of Parasitic Life in the Southern Ocean. Parasitology Research Monographs,}, volume = {9}, year = {2017}, pages = {183-204}, publisher = {Springer Nature}, organization = {Springer Nature}, chapter = {10}, address = {Cham, Switzerland}, abstract = {

Parasitism is a highly common mode of living in animals being parasite species very abundant. Parasites affect in a different ways the host life through subtle effects to more dramatic effects causing population crashes and then regulating host populations. Antarctica and the Southern Ocean wildlife show also parasites although the published information is very scarce. This is even in the case of the most studied group of Antarctic seabirds, the penguins. In this chapter, we analyze the published information about the presence, epidemiology, life cycles, and effects of macroparasites, helminths, and ectoparasites in Antarctic penguins. Most of the publications only give information about the presence/absence of parasites, and very few give data about epidemiology such as prevalence or intensity of parasitization. The information about intermediate host is almost absent, and parasite effects have been addressed very few times. Moreover, the information is based on few areas, and there is not any long-term data set which makes difficult a broad understanding of the impact of parasites in the ecology of penguins. Nevertheless, the little information allows extracting some conclusions. First, the diversity of parasite species is very low which can be explained by the narrow diet spectrum and the harsh conditions. Second, helminths occur at higher prevalence than ectoparasites. In general, a trend of decreased macroparasite prevalence towards more southerly locations can be identified, although the small number of studies precludes a robust conclusion. Third, general parasite effects have been reported causing tissue damage, changes in immune parameters, reduction in body mass, reduction of breeding success, and transmission of diseases, this later in the case of ticks. Finally, it is expected that climate change will affect host-parasite interaction in penguins due to changes in the parasite distribution, host exposure, or resistance, but a higher number of studies with good quality data at long term are needed to confirm the expectations and a deeper understanding of the ecological aspects of parasites such as life cycle, epidemiology, and health impacts in the penguins.

}, keywords = {Antartica, ectoparasites, Helminths, Host-parasite interaction, penguins}, issn = {978-3-319-46342-1 (print), 978-3-319-46343-8 (e-book)}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-319-46343-8}, url = {http://phthiraptera.info/sites/phthiraptera.info/files/94321.pdf}, author = {Julia I Diaz and Bruno Fusaro and Virginia Vidal and Daniel Gonz{\'a}lez-Acu{\~n}a and Costa, Erli Schneider and Meagan Dewar and Gray, Rachael and Michelle L. Power and Gary Miller and Michaela Blyton and Vanstreels, Ralph Eric Thijl and Andr{\'e}s Barbosa}, editor = {Klimpel,Sven and Thomas Kuhn and Heinz Mehlhorn} } @article {68841, title = {Investigation of blood parasites of pygoscelid penguins at the King George and Elephant Islands, South Shetlands Archipelago, Antarctica}, journal = {Polar Biology}, volume = {37}, year = {2014}, month = {08/2014}, pages = {135 - 139}, type = {Short notes}, abstract = {

Parasites may adversely affect the breeding success and survival of penguins, potentially hampering the viability of their populations. We examined 161 pygoscelid penguins (3\ Pygoscelis adeliae, 98 Pygoscelis antarcticus, and 60 Pygoscelis papua) at the South\ Shetlands Archipelago during the 2010\–2011 summer; blood smears were examined for 64 penguins (2 P. adeliae, 18 P. antarcticus, and 44 P. papua), and a PCR test targeting\ Haemoproteus sp. and Plasmodium sp. was applied for 37 penguins (2 P. adeliae, 17 P. antarcticus, 19 P. papua). No blood parasites were observed, and all PCR tests were negative, leukocyte profiles were similar to those reported in other studies for wild\ pygoscelid penguins, and all penguins were in good body condition and had no external signs of disease. One specimen of chewing lice (Austrogoniodes sp.) was recorded in one P. antarcticus at King George Island. Ticks (Ixodes uriae) were not observed on the penguins, but were found on the ground near P. antarcticus nests at King George Island. The absence of avian blood parasites in Antarctic penguins is thought to result from the absence of competent invertebrate hosts in the climatic conditions. Predicted climate changes may redefine the geographic distribution of vector-borne pathogens, and therefore, the occurrence of blood parasites and their invertebrate hosts should be monitored regularly in Antarctic birds, particularly in the northernmost Antarctic Peninsula.

}, keywords = {Antarctic Peninsula, Health, hematology, vector-borne pathogen}, issn = {0722-4060}, doi = {10.1007/s00300-013-1401-x}, url = {http://phthiraptera.info/sites/phthiraptera.info/files/68841.pdf}, author = {Vanstreels, Ralph Eric Thijl and Miranda, Flavia R. and Ruoppolo, Valeria and Reis, Ana Ol{\'\i}via de Almeida and Costa, Erli Schneider and Pess{\^o}a, Adriana Rodrigues de Lira and Torres, Jo{\~a}o Paulo Machado and Teixeira da Cunha, Larissa Schmauder Teixeira and Piuco, Roberta da Cruz and Valiati, Victor Hugo and Daniel Gonz{\'a}lez-Acu{\~n}a and Labruna, Marcelo B. and Petry, Maria Virginia and Epiphanio, Sabrina and Cat{\~a}o-Dias, {\'e} Luiz} }