Occurrence of gastrointestinal parasites in Spheniscus magellanicus (Foster, 1781) located in Pontal do Sul, PR, Brazil / Ocorrência de parasitas gastrintestinais em Spheniscus magellanicus (Foster, 1781) localizados em Pontal do Sul, PR, Brasil

Gastrointestinal parasitism is the main health problem faced by Spheniscus magellanicus, known as Magellanic penguins, in route on the Brazilian coast. The aim of this research was to report the occurrence and intensity of gastrointestinal parasites in S. magellanicus that reached Pontal do Sul, Paraná, South of Brazil. The study was performed at the Marine Study Center of the Federal University of Parana (CEM-UFPR) with 38 specimens, 31 were necropsied and seven were examined alive with coproparasitological exams. From the necropsied animals, 93.5% (29/31) were parasitized with at least one parasite species. Contracaecum pelagicum was the most prevalent 93,5% (29/31) parasite, followed by Cardiocephaloides physalis (64.5%) and Tetrabothrius lutzi (51.6%). Only one animal was free of parasites and the most infected bird had 1.076 parasites with an average of 194 worms. Willis-Mollay method revealed that 57.1% (4/7) had C. pelagicum eggs. In conclusion, the high rate of gastrointestinal parasites in S. magellanicus confirms the clinical exams, when animals had poor health conditions when they were found in the cost of Paraná. This study provides data to enrich the literature regarding the helminth fauna of the Magellanic penguins, assisting sanitary control programs in Rehabilitation Centers for Marine Animals.(AU)

As parasitoses gastrintestinais são o principal problema sanitário enfrentado pelo Spheniscus magellanicus, conhecido como pinguim-de-magalhães, que faz rota no litoral brasileiro. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi relatar a ocorrência e a intensidade de parasitas gastrintestinais em Spheniscus magellanicus encontrados em Pontal do Sul, Paraná, Sul do Brasil. O estudo foi realizado no Centro de Estudos Marinhos da Universidade Federal do Paraná, CEM-UFPR, com 38 espécimes; 31 dos quais foram necropsiados, e em sete aves vivas foram realizados exames coproparasitológicos. Do total analisado, 93,5% (29/31) aves estavam parasitadas com pelo menos uma espécie, sendo o Contracaecum pelagicum o mais prevalente, 93,5% (29/31), seguido de Cardiocephaloides physalis (64,5%) e de Tetrabothrius lutzi (51,6%). Somente um animal estava livre de parasitas e a ave mais infectada possuía 1.076 parasitas; a média foi em 194 vermes. No exame de Willis-Mollay, foi observada positividade em 57,1% (4/7) para C. pelagicum. Conclui-se que o alto índice de parasitas gastrintestinais em S. magellanicus confirma os exames clínicos que eles apresentaram, de baixa condição sanitária, quando foram encontrados no litoral do Paraná. Este estudo fornece dados que irão enriquecer a literatura sobre a helminto fauna do pinguim-de-magalhães, auxiliando programas de controle sanitário em Centros de Reabilitação de Animais Marinhos.(AU)

Eisenmenger ventricular septal defect in a Humboldt penguin (Spheniscus humboldti).

The Eisenmenger ventricular septal defect is an uncommon type of ventricular septal defect characterised in humans by a traditionally perimembranous ventricular septal defect, anterior deviation (cranioventral deviation in small animal patients) of the muscular outlet septum causing malalignment relative to the remainder of the muscular septum, and overriding of the aortic valve. This anomaly is reported infrequently in human patients and was identified in a 45-day-old Humboldt Penguin, Spheniscus humboldti, with signs of poor growth and a cardiac murmur. This case report describes the findings in this penguin and summarises the anatomy and classification of this cardiac anomaly. To the authors' knowledge this is the first report of an Eisenmenger ventricular septal defect in a veterinary patient.

Reducing bumblefoot lesions in a group of captive Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) with the use of environmental enrichment / A redução do bumblefoot com a utilização de enriquecimento ambiental para um grupo de pinguim-de-Magalhães (Spheniscus magellanicus) mantido em cativeiro

Captive penguins are prone to pododermatitis (bumblefoot) lesions due to sedentary habits, changes in normal activity patterns, prolonged time on hard and abrasive surfaces, and less time swimming in the water. Environmental enrichment allows the use of creative and ingenious techniques that aim to keep the captive animals occupied by increasing the range and the diversity of behavioral opportunities always respecting the ethological needs of the species. The main goal of this work was to use environmental enrichment techniques to reduce pododermatitis in a group of captive penguins. Five captive Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) that were showing bumblefoot lesions were followed during this project. To monitor the lesions, all animals were physically restraint 3 times a week over a period of 12 weeks. Environmental enrichment was introduced daily in the water with the goal of enhancing their time in the water for one extra hour daily. The results demonstrate that in a twelve weeks period, four animals showed significant reduction of the lesions in both feet and in two animals the lesions were completely healed. With these results we can conclude that aquatic environmental enrichment allowed this group of penguins to spend more time in the water, favoring the reduction of the bumblefoot lesions.

Os pinguins cativos estão predispostos a pododermatite (bumblefoot) devido ao sedentarismo, mudanças dos padrões normais de atividade, tempo prolongado de permanência em pisos duros e abrasivos, diminuição da natação e tempo na água. O enriquecimento ambiental permite a utilização de técnicas imaginativas e engenhosas que visam manter os animais cativos ocupados e com uma maior diversidade de oportunidades comportamentais, sempre respeitando as necessidades etológicas da espécie. O objetivo deste trabalho foi utilizar técnicas de enriquecimento ambiental para reduzir as lesões de pododermatite em um grupo de pingüins. Cinco indivíduos da espécie Pinguim-de-Magalhães (Spheniscus magellanicus) foram monitorados durante este projeto. Todos os animais foram contidos fisicamente 3 vezes por semana para a realização do acompanhamento do tamanho das lesões, durante 12 semanas. Enriquecimento ambiental foi introduzido diariamente na água, objetivando aumentar em uma hora o tempo em que os animais passavam na água. Os resultados mostraram que, ao longo das 12 semanas, 4 animais apresentaram redução significativa das lesões em ambas as patas, sendo que em dois animais as lesões desapareceram. Com isto, podemos concluir que o enriquecimento ambiental aquático para este grupo de pingüins permitiu um maior tempo de permanência dos animais na água favorecendo a redução das lesões de bumblefoot.

Study of bacteria isolated from the foot pad of Spheniscus magellanicus with and without bumblefoot / Estudo de bactérias isoladas de coxins plantares de Spheniscus magellanicus com e sem bumblefoot

The bumblefoot or pododermatitis is among the diseases with the highest morbidity in Magellanic penguins, sometimes evolving to septicemia and death. Therefore, this study aimed to relate the main species involved in the disorder, as well as the in vitro susceptibility profile of the microorganisms against routine antimicrobial usage in Veterinary Medicine. During two years in vivo material was harvested from 200 footpads (n=100 animals) for microbiological analysis and in vitro susceptibility tests against the Antibiotic enrofloxacin, streptomycin, penicillin and cephalosporin. Bacteria have been identified both as part of permanent and transient microbiota, also being associated to 100% of the pododermatitis cases. The most prevalent genus were Staphylococcus and Corynebacterium. The antibiograms of all the isolated bacteria resulted in greater susceptibility of the strains facing cephalosporin, followed by enrofloxacin, streptomycin and penicillin.

O bumblefoot ou pododermatite está entre as afecções de maior morbidade em pinguins-de-magalhães, podendo evoluir para septicemia e óbito. Portanto, o presente estudo objetivou relacionar as principais espécies bacterianas envolvidas na afecção, bem como o perfil de susceptibilidade in vitro destes microrganismos frente a antimicrobianos de uso rotineiro em medicina veterinária. Durante o período de dois anos, foi realizada colheita de material in vivo de 200 coxins plantares (n=100 animais) para análise microbiológica e testes de susceptibilidade in vitro frente aos antibióticos enrofloxacina, estreptomicina, penicilina e cefalosporina. Bactérias foram identificadas tanto como parte da microbiota permanente quanto da transitória, bem como estiveram associadas a 100% dos casos de pododermatite. Os gêneros mais prevalentes foram Staphylococcus e Corynebacterium. Os antibiogramas de todas as bactérias isoladas resultaram em maior sensibilidade das cepas frente à cefalosporina, seguida de enrofloxacina, estreptomicina e penicilina.

Diagnosis and attempted surgical repair of hemivertebrae in an African penguin (Spheniscus demersus).

Spinal injuries and congenital or developmental spinal deformities have rarely been reported in pet birds, and treatment for these conditions is even less often described. In poultry, spinal and leg deformities have been well documented, but treatment of the individual is not considered, because affected individuals are typically culled. A 10-week-old male African black-footed penguin (Spheniscus demersus) from the penguin exhibit at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore was evaluated for ataxia, weakness, and motor deficits and was diagnosed with a spinal deformity. Further investigation by using magnetic resonance imaging was conducted, and the penguin subsequently underwent an attempted surgical repair of the malformation. The penguin never regained normal motor control and was found dead 4 weeks after the surgery. Necropsy results revealed hemivertebrae and compression of the spinal cord with associated myositis. Although attempted treatment was unsuccessful in this case, this report illustrates the diagnostic and treatment challenges of avian spinal disease.