Investigation of Babesia sp. in pygoscelid penguins at the South Shetland Islands
Babesia spp. are tick-borne parasites, and 16 avian-infecting species have been described to date, including one species (Babesia peircei) that infects penguins. Considering the results of a recent study reporting Babesia sp. in penguins on Deception Island, South Shetland Islands, we re-examined th...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Norwegian Polar Institute
2018-01-01
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| Series: | Polar Research |
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| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17518369.2018.1500267 |
| _version_ | 1818582153130147840 |
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| author | Ralph Eric Thijl Vanstreels Francisco C. Ferreira Junior Daniela de Angeli Dutra Sabrina Epiphanio Érika M. Braga Pierre A. Pistorius José Luiz Catão-Dias |
| author_facet | Ralph Eric Thijl Vanstreels Francisco C. Ferreira Junior Daniela de Angeli Dutra Sabrina Epiphanio Érika M. Braga Pierre A. Pistorius José Luiz Catão-Dias |
| author_sort | Ralph Eric Thijl Vanstreels |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Babesia spp. are tick-borne parasites, and 16 avian-infecting species have been described to date, including one species (Babesia peircei) that infects penguins. Considering the results of a recent study reporting Babesia sp. in penguins on Deception Island, South Shetland Islands, we re-examined the samples obtained in a previous investigation on the occurrence of blood parasites in adult Adélie (Pygoscelis adeliae), chinstrap (Pygoscelis antarcticus) and gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua) on King George and Elephant islands, South Shetland Islands. Notwithstanding a comprehensive re-examination of the blood smears, Babesia sp. was not detected. When we employed two nested PCR tests targeting the 18S rRNA gene of Babesia, a considerable proportion of the samples produced positive results; however, gene sequencing revealed these were due to cross-amplification of non-target organisms. We therefore did not detect Babesia sp. infection in penguins on King George and Elephant islands. Additional studies will be valuable to clarify the distribution and epidemiology of tick-borne pathogens in sub-Antarctic and Antarctic seabirds. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-16T07:44:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-11bf9cc1bd754a6da86aae6f0f699d39 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1751-8369 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-16T07:44:51Z |
| publishDate | 2018-01-01 |
| publisher | Norwegian Polar Institute |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Polar Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-11bf9cc1bd754a6da86aae6f0f699d392022-12-21T22:38:59ZengNorwegian Polar InstitutePolar Research1751-83692018-01-0137110.1080/17518369.2018.15002671500267Investigation of Babesia sp. in pygoscelid penguins at the South Shetland IslandsRalph Eric Thijl Vanstreels0Francisco C. Ferreira Junior1Daniela de Angeli Dutra2Sabrina Epiphanio3Érika M. Braga4Pierre A. Pistorius5José Luiz Catão-Dias6Universidade de São PauloUniversidade Federal de Minas GeraisUniversidade Federal de Minas GeraisUniversidade de São PauloUniversidade Federal de Minas GeraisNelson Mandela UniversityUniversidade de São PauloBabesia spp. are tick-borne parasites, and 16 avian-infecting species have been described to date, including one species (Babesia peircei) that infects penguins. Considering the results of a recent study reporting Babesia sp. in penguins on Deception Island, South Shetland Islands, we re-examined the samples obtained in a previous investigation on the occurrence of blood parasites in adult Adélie (Pygoscelis adeliae), chinstrap (Pygoscelis antarcticus) and gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua) on King George and Elephant islands, South Shetland Islands. Notwithstanding a comprehensive re-examination of the blood smears, Babesia sp. was not detected. When we employed two nested PCR tests targeting the 18S rRNA gene of Babesia, a considerable proportion of the samples produced positive results; however, gene sequencing revealed these were due to cross-amplification of non-target organisms. We therefore did not detect Babesia sp. infection in penguins on King George and Elephant islands. Additional studies will be valuable to clarify the distribution and epidemiology of tick-borne pathogens in sub-Antarctic and Antarctic seabirds.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17518369.2018.1500267AntarcticabloodseabirdSpheniscidaetick-borne pathogen |
| spellingShingle | Ralph Eric Thijl Vanstreels Francisco C. Ferreira Junior Daniela de Angeli Dutra Sabrina Epiphanio Érika M. Braga Pierre A. Pistorius José Luiz Catão-Dias Investigation of Babesia sp. in pygoscelid penguins at the South Shetland Islands Polar Research Antarctica blood seabird Spheniscidae tick-borne pathogen |
| title | Investigation of Babesia sp. in pygoscelid penguins at the South Shetland Islands |
| title_full | Investigation of Babesia sp. in pygoscelid penguins at the South Shetland Islands |
| title_fullStr | Investigation of Babesia sp. in pygoscelid penguins at the South Shetland Islands |
| title_full_unstemmed | Investigation of Babesia sp. in pygoscelid penguins at the South Shetland Islands |
| title_short | Investigation of Babesia sp. in pygoscelid penguins at the South Shetland Islands |
| title_sort | investigation of babesia sp in pygoscelid penguins at the south shetland islands |
| topic | Antarctica blood seabird Spheniscidae tick-borne pathogen |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17518369.2018.1500267 |
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