| compound-specific stable isotope analyses in falkland islands seabirds reveal seasonal changes in trophic positions. | while nitrogen and carbon stable isotope values can reflect ecological segregation, prey choice and spatial distribution in seabirds, the interpretation of bulk stable isotope values is frequently hampered by a lack of isotopic baseline data. in this study, we used compound-specific isotope analyses of amino acids (csia-aa) to overcome this constraint and to study interspecific differences, seasonal and historical changes in trophic positions of five seabird species, three penguins and two petre ... | 2020 | 32293412 |
| nasal mites (mesostigmata: rhinonyssidae) in african penguins (spheniscus demersus). | rhinonyssids are obligate haematophagous mites that parasitize the nasal cavity of vertebrates, and occur in a wide range of birds worldwide. two species of nasal mites are known to occur in penguins: rhinonyssus sphenisci, which has been recorded from humboldt and magellanic penguins (spheniscus humboldti and s. magellanicus, respectively), and rhinonyssus schelli, which has been recorded in adélie and gentoo penguins (pygoscelis adeliae and p. papua, respectively). we examined the nasal cavity ... | 2019 | 29921335 |
| genetic evidence of hybridization between magellanic (sphensicus magellanicus) and humboldt (spheniscus humboldti) penguins in the wild. | the process of hybridization between closely related species plays an important role in defining the genetic integrity and overall genetic diversity of species. the distribution range of magellanic (spheniscus magellanicus) and humboldt (spheniscus humboldti) penguins is predominantly allopatric; however, the species share a region of sympatry where they may hybridize. we analyzed four types of genetic markers (including nuclear and mitochondrial markers) to assess their utility in detecting hyb ... | 2020 | 33070222 |
| sarcocystis falcatula-like derived from opossum in northeastern brazil: in vitro propagation in avian cells, molecular characterization and bioassay in birds. | most reported isolates of sarcocystis spp. derived from brazilian opossums (didelphis sp.) have genetic characteristics distinct from the known species of sarcocystis, but behave similarly as sarcocystis falcatula, as they are infective to budgerigars. in previous studies, these brazilian isolates, classified as sarcocystis falcatula-like, were originated from south and southeast regions of brazil. in the current work, we aimed to culture and to perform multilocus sequence analysis of sarcocysti ... | 2019 | 31516824 |
| penguins are competent hosts of haemoproteus parasites: the first detection of gametocytes, with molecular characterization of haemoproteus larae. | the majority of penguins (sphenisciformes) have evolved in areas with weak or absent transmission of haemosporidian parasites and are usually naïve to avian haemosporidian infections. plasmodium parasites are transmitted by mosquitoes, and lethal avian malaria has been often reported in captive penguins in many countries. the related haemosporidian parasites belonging to haemoproteus and leucocytozoon have also been detected in penguins but less often than plasmodium infections. the majority of ... | 2020 | 32532316 |
| postmortem findings in magellanic penguins (spheniscus magellanicus) caught in a drift gillnet. | penguin interaction with gillnets has been extensively reported in the atlantic and pacific oceans, and is considered a major conservation threat. among penguin species, magellanic penguins (spheniscus magellanicus) are currently considered of great concern, particularly in brazil, where they are highly susceptible to gillnet bycatch. nevertheless, information about drowning-associated microscopic findings in penguins is limited. | 2020 | 32448250 |
| marine debris boost in juvenile magellanic penguins stranded in south-eastern brazil in less than a decade: insights into feeding habits and habitat use. | the magellanic penguin (spheniscus magellanicus) is a marine sentinel for the southern atlantic ocean that is a proxy of environmental quality. the presence of marine debris (macro-debris) in the stomach contents of emaciated juvenile penguins stranded from 21°s to 23°s was compared at different times (2000 and 2008), and the debris ingestion pathway was determined. the frequency of marine debris in the stomachs doubled in less than a decade, and flexible plastics remained the main ingested item ... | 2017 | 28958439 |
| atrophic proventriculitis associated with gravid females of tetrameres sp. (nematoda: tetrameridae) in the magellanic penguin (spheniscus magellanicus) on the coast of brazil. | the present study offers the first description of proventriculitis associated with the presence of gravid female nematodes of the genus tetrameres (nematoda: tetrameridae) in 3 juvenile magellanic penguins (spheniscus magellanicus) found dead on the coast of brazil. this study broadens knowledge on parasites associated with these hosts and the real impact of this association. | 2020 | 32083984 |
| hematology and plasma chemistry values in beached magellanic penguin (spheniscus magellanicus) in northern argentina during the nonbreeding season. | seabirds have been widely used for monitoring the health of the oceans in diverse marine regions. among low-cost survey strategies, systematic surveys of seabirds beached on coasts have been developed since the 20th century. however, these studies do not always address blood aspects. the assessment of the health status of birds based on the analysis of hematological and plasma chemistry is crucial to evaluate the overall health status profile of live organisms. here, the authors study the variab ... | 2020 | 31926525 |
| phylogenetic relationships of cardiocephaloides spp. (digenea, diplostomoidea) and the genetic characterization of cardiocephaloides physalis from magellanic penguin, spheniscus magellanicus, in chile. | cardiocephaloides is a small genus of strigeid digeneans with an essentially cosmopolitan distribution. most members of cardiocephaloides are found in larid birds, however, cardiocephaloides physalis is an exception and parasitizes penguins in some coastal regions of south america and south africa. no prior molecular phylogenetic studies have included dna sequence data of c. physalis. herein, we provide molecular phylogenetic analyses of cardiocephaloides using dna sequences from five species of ... | 2020 | 31919798 |
| the role of demographic history and selection in shaping genetic diversity of the galápagos penguin (spheniscus mendiculus). | although many studies have documented the effects of demographic bottlenecks on the genetic diversity of natural populations, there is conflicting evidence of the roles that genetic drift and selection may play in driving changes in genetic variation at adaptive loci. we analyzed genetic variation at microsatellite and mitochondrial loci in conjunction with an adaptive mhc class ii locus in the galápagos penguin (spheniscus mendiculus), a species that has undergone serial demographic bottlenecks ... | 2020 | 31910443 |
| sex ratio is variable and increasingly male biased at two colonies of magellanic penguins. | sex ratios are commonly skewed and variable in wild populations, but few studies track temporal trends in this demographic parameter. we examined variation in the operational sex ratio at two protected and declining breeding colonies of magellanic penguins (spheniscus magellanicus) in chubut, argentina. penguins from the two colonies, separated by 105 km, migrate north in the non-breeding season and have overlapping distributions at sea. conditions during the non-breeding season can impact long- ... | 2020 | 31746460 |
| sex-biased survival contributes to population decline in a long-lived seabird, the magellanic penguin. | we developed a hidden markov mark-recapture model (r package marked) to examine sex-specific demography in magellanic penguins (spheniscus magellanicus). our model was based on 33 yr of resightings at punta tombo, argentina, where we banded ~44,000 chicks from 1983 to 2010. because we sexed only 57% of individuals over their lifetime, we treated sex as an uncertain state in our model. our goals were to provide insight into the population dynamics of this declining colony, to inform conservation ... | 2019 | 30601594 |
| occurrence of tissue cyst forming coccidia in magellanic penguins (spheniscus magellanicus) rescued on the coast of brazil. | the main motivation for this study was to determine the occurrence of toxoplasma gondii, a cosmopolitan widespread zoonotic parasite distribution that can infect a wide variety of mammals and birds, in magellanic penguins (spheniscus magellanicus) in brazil. in recent decades there has been a significant increase in the number of penguins originating from argentinian and chilean patagonia, where these birds are born, that arrive on the brazilian coast, where many of them are stranded and rescued ... | 2018 | 30562391 |
| ecotourism effects on health and immunity of magellanic penguins at two reproductive colonies with disparate touristic regimes and population trends. | negative effects of ecotourism on wildlife are rising worldwide. conservation physiology can play a major role in protecting wildlife by providing early alerts on changes in the status of individuals exposed to tourist activities. we measured an integrated set of immune and health-state indices to evaluate the effects of ecotourism on magellanic penguins (spheniscus magellanicus). we studied two reproductive colonies that differed in the intensity of tourism and population trends: punta tombo (h ... | 2018 | 30464841 |
| lateralization (handedness) in magellanic penguins. | lateralization, or asymmetry in form and/or function, is found in many animal species. brain lateralization is considered adaptive for an individual, and often results in "handedness," "footedness," or a side preference, manifest in behavior and morphology. we tested for lateralization in several behaviors in a wild population of magellanic penguins spheniscus magellanicus breeding at punta tombo, argentina. we found no preferred foot in the population (each penguin observed once) in stepping up ... | 2019 | 31149402 |
| pathological and molecular characterization of avian malaria in captive magellanic penguins (spheniscus magellanicus) in south america. | avian malaria is a mosquito-borne disease that affects multiple avian species and is caused by protozoans of the genus plasmodium. an avian malaria infection caused by plasmodium sp. in magellanic penguins (spheniscus magellanicus) with high mortality is described in a zoo in southern brazil. clinically, three birds presented signs of inappetence, anorexia, pale mucosa, dyspnea, and opisthotonus, with death in a clinical course of 5-8 h. at the necropsy, all birds exhibited pale mucosa, marked s ... | 2019 | 30456492 |
| venous and arterial acid-base analysis of magellanic penguins (spheniscus magellanicus), awake and anesthetized by isoflurane. | this study aimed to compare the venous acid-base status of healthy awake versus anesthetized magellanic penguins (spheniscus magellanicus). ten nonanesthetized penguins were manually restrained, and a venous blood sample was collected. six of these penguins were anesthetized by 2% isoflurane and, after an anesthetic stabilization period, both venous and arterial blood samples were simultaneously withdrawn. using an i-stat analyzer, partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pco2), partial pressure of o ... | 2019 | 31120688 |
| application of different pharmacokinetic models to describe and predict pharmacokinetics of voriconazole in magellanic penguins following oral administration. | aspergillosis is a condition causing serious morbidity and mortality in captive penguins and other bird species. it can be treated with antifungal drugs, such as voriconazole. however, the pharmacokinetics of voriconazole are variable between different animal and bird species. therefore, the pharmacokinetics of voriconazole were investigated in this study in magellanic penguins. pharmacokinetic models were constructed and applied to predict the pharmacokinetics of voriconazole during long-term t ... | 2019 | 30175535 |
| variation in mercury concentration in juvenile magellanic penguins during their migration path along the southwest atlantic ocean. | the vulnerability of seabirds related to their migratory dynamics is frequently linked to environmental problems along the migration path. in this context, magellanic penguins (sphenicus magellanicus) seem to be vulnerable to an extensive range of environmental disturbances during their northward migration along the atlantic waters of south america, which include by catch, marine debris ingestion, overfishing and environmental contamination. in this study, we investigate mercury accumulation in ... | 2018 | 29587210 |
| food provisioning in magellanic penguins as inferred from stable isotope ratios. | food provisioning is considered one of the main traits affecting offspring fitness. differences in food provisioning between sexes, particularly in dimorphic species, could affect the amount and type of food provided, due to differences in the amount of food carried to the nest as a result of differential resources exploitation. quantitative evidence for sexual differences in food provisioning by parents in penguins is scarce. the magellanic penguin is moderately sexually dimorphic and breeds al ... | 2018 | 29361198 |
| occurrence and tissue distribution of organochlorinated compounds and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in magellanic penguins (spheniscus magellanicus) from the southeastern coast of brazil. | seabirds are suitable biomonitors for several persistent organic pollutants (pop), such as polychlorinated biphenyls (pcbs), organochlorine pesticides (ocps) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (pahs), although scarce studies of pahs in seabirds are available, especially in south american populations. therefore, this study aimed to assess ocps, pcbs and pahs, through gas chromatography-electron capture detector (gc-ecd) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (gc-ms) analyses, in liver (n = 9) ... | 2020 | 32836122 |
| enterococci from wild magellanic penguins (spheniscus magellanicus) as an indicator of marine ecosystem health and human impact. | enterococci are commensals that proliferated as animals crawled ashore hundreds of millions of years ago. they are also leading causes of multidrug-resistant hospital-acquired infections. while most studies are driven by clinical interest, comparatively little is known about enterococci in the wild or the effect of human activity on them. pharmaceutical pollution and runoff from other human activities are encroaching widely into natural habitats. to assess their reach into remote habitats, we in ... | 2020 | 32737129 |
| bioavailability of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to penguins on the coast of southeastern brazil. | bioavailability of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on são paulo state coast (southeastern brazil) was evaluated through the analysis of biliary metabolites in spheniscus magellanicus (n = 79). the animals analyzed in present study were either found dead during beach monitoring procedures or died at rehabilitation centers. analyses of naphthalene (nap), phenanthrene (phe) and benzo[a]pyrene (bap) metabolites were performed using a high-performance liquid chromatograph equipped with fluorescence ... | 2020 | 32658674 |
| draft genome sequence of an extensively drug-resistant pseudomonas aeruginosa isolate belonging to st644 isolated from a footpad infection in a magellanic penguin (spheniscus magellanicus). | the incidence of multidrug-resistant bacteria in wildlife animals has been investigated to improve our knowledge of the spread of clinically relevant antimicrobial resistance genes. the aim of this study was to report the first draft genome sequence of an extensively drug-resistant (xdr) pseudomonas aeruginosa st644 isolate recovered from a magellanic penguin with a footpad infection (bumblefoot) undergoing rehabilitation process. | 2018 | 29277728 |
| evaluation of antibodies against toxoplasma gondii and leptospira spp. in magellanic penguins (spheniscus magellanicus) on magdalena island, chile. | toxoplasmosis has been reported in many avian species, but little information is available from wild penguin populations. leptospira can infects domestic and wild animals. spheniscus magellanicus belong to the order sphenisciformes, family spheniscidae, and are colonial birds. these seabirds live in temperate waters along the atlantic shores of south america, and their total population has been estimated to be 1,300,000 breeding pairs. magdalena island (chile) hosts an important breeding colony ... | 2019 | 31027597 |
| from mammals back to birds: host-switch of the acanthocephalan corynosoma australe from pinnipeds to the magellanic penguin spheniscus magellanicus. | trophically-transmitted parasites are regularly exposed to potential new hosts through food web interactions. successful colonization, or switching, to novel hosts, occur readily when 'donor' and 'target' hosts are phylogenetically related, whereas switching between distantly related hosts is rare and may result from stochastic factors (i.e. rare favourable mutations). this study investigates a host-switching event between a marine acanthocephalan specific to pinnipeds that is apparently able to ... | 2017 | 28981550 |
| epidemiology, hematology, and unusual morphological characteristics of plasmodium during an avian malaria outbreak in penguins in brazil. | avian malaria is a mosquito-borne disease caused by plasmodium spp. protozoa, and penguins are considered particularly susceptible to this disease, developing rapid outbreaks with potentially high mortality. we report on an outbreak of avian malaria in magellanic penguins (spheniscus magellanicus) at a rehabilitation center in espírito santo, southeast brazil. in august and september 2015, a total of 89 magellanic penguins (87 juveniles and 2 adults) received care at institute of research and re ... | 2019 | 31720833 |
| late onset of cerebellar cortical degeneration in a magellanic penguin (spheniscus magellanicus). | an 8-year-old female magellanic penguin (spheniscus magellanicus) started to show epilepsy-like seizures. subsequent magnetic resonance imaging (mri) examinations did not reveal any responsible lesions. the neurological symptoms worsened at the age of 10. this penguin became recumbent and died 6 months later after the apparition of the recumbency. at necropsy, only multiple yellowish necrotic lesions in the air sacs and lungs were found. histopathological evaluation of the brain showed a marked ... | 2019 | 30956256 |
| species of contracaecum parasitizing the magellanic penguin spheniscus magellanicus (spheniscidae) from the argentinean coast. | anisakid nematodes have a worldwide distribution and are associated with fishes, birds, and marine mammals from freshwater, brackish, and marine systems. the aims of this work are to report for the first time contracaecum mirounga parasitizing the magellanic penguin spheniscus magellanicus, to report another contracaecum species in the same host species, and to discuss the validity of contracaeceum spheniscus. several dead chicks, juveniles, and adults of s. magellanicus were collected along the ... | 2019 | 30900944 |
| comparative morphometric evaluation of hepatic hemosiderosis in wild magellanic penguins (spheniscus magellanicus) infected with different plasmodium spp. subgenera. | avian malaria is one of the most important diseases of captive penguins. we employed morphometric techniques to evaluate hepatic hemosiderosis in rehabilitating wild magellanic penguins (spheniscus magellanicus) that were negative (n = 9) or naturally infected by different subgenera of plasmodium spp. (n = 24), according with: plasmodium subgenera (haemamoeba, huffia, other lineages, and unidentified lineages), severity of plasmodium histopathological lesions, and concurrent diseases, age class ... | 2019 | 30810664 |
| correction: occurrence of tissue cyst forming coccidia in magellanic penguins (spheniscus magellanicus) rescued on the coast of brazil. | [this corrects the article doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0209007.]. | 2019 | 30742697 |
| female-biased stranding in magellanic penguins. | magellanic penguins (spheniscus magellanicus) have been reported to become stranded along the coasts of northern argentina, uruguay and southern brazil during the austral winter [1-3]. this location is more than a thousand kilometers distant from their northernmost breeding colony in northern patagonia. curiously, females typically outnumber males at stranding sites (approximately three females per male) [2]. to date, no conspicuous sex differences have been reported in their migratory movements ... | 2019 | 30620906 |
| novel ehrlichia sp. detected in magellanic penguins (sphenicus magellanicus) and in the seabird tick ixodes uriae from magdalena island, southern chile. | ehrlichia spp. are obligatory intracellular microorganisms that infect hematopoietic, endothelial or blood cells of mammals. ticks are the only vectors of these agents in nature. to date, the role of birds and their associated ticks as reservoirs of ehrlichiae remains almost unexplored. in this study, we performed a molecular screening for bacteria of anaplasmataceae family in samples of spleen (n = 72) and lung (n = 17), recovered from 72 carcasses of magellanic penguins (spheniscus magellanicu ... | 2019 | 31255535 |
| mortality of a juvenile magellanic penguin (spheniscus magellanicus, spheniscidae) associated with the ingestion of a pff-2 protective mask during the covid-19 pandemic. | we report the discovery of a dead magellanic penguin (spheniscus magellanicus) found on juquehy beach (23°46's 45°44'w), municipality of são sebastião, brazil, on september 9th 2020. following necropsy, we noted the presence of an adult size pff-2 protective mask within the stomach of the penguin which we inferred as the cause of death. as far as we are aware, this is the first recorded instance of marine animal mortality by protective face mask ingestion. whilst concerns have been raised relati ... | 2021 | 33725563 |
| avian orthoavulavirus 1 (newcastle disease virus) antibodies in five penguin species, antarctic peninsula and southern patagonia. | avian orthoavulavirus 1 (aoav-1) causes newcastle disease, one of the most important and contagious infections in poultry, where migratory birds can play a key role as a reservoir. seven hundred and seven serum samples were collected from five penguin species (king, magellanic, gentoo, chinstrap and adelie penguins) in the antarctic and sub-antarctic zones. using a competitive elisa to detect antibodies against aoav-1, we identified positive individuals in all penguin species. the magellanic pen ... | 2021 | 33587778 |