First pathological report of parasitic gastric ulceration in Humboldt penguin (Spheniscus humboldti) along the coast of south central Chile

Autor: Miguel Mansilla, Ítalo Fernández, Cristhian Rodríguez, V Víctor Campos, Hernán González, Meyling Rivas, Francisco Yáñez, Katherine Alveal, Ariel Valenzuela, Ciro Oyarzún
Rok vydání: 2012
Předmět:
Zdroj: Latin American Journal of Aquatic Research. 40:448-452
ISSN: 0718-560X
DOI: 10.3856/vol40-issue2-fulltext-20
Popis: This report offers a macroscopic and histological description of ulcerative gastric lesions in Humboldt penguins associated with the presence of Contracaecum pelagicum. Parasites of this genus have been isolated from different species of marine mammals and birds, including penguins, demonstrating its capacity to generate ulcerative lesions in the gastrointestinal tracts of many hosts. A bibliographic review revealed no publications on gastric ulceration by nematodes in Humboldt penguins. Studies carried out in Chile concerning gastrointestinal parasitism by nematodes of the Contracaecum genus in S. humboldti only established the parasite's taxonomy. This is the first pathological description of a parasitic ulcerative manifestation in the stomach of S. humboldti in the world. The Humboldt penguin is a vulnerable species. Therefore, this study is relevant as it offers a better understanding of the diseases that affect S. humboldti and facilitates the development of strategies intended to recover the population.
Databáze: OpenAIRE