Gastrointestinal parasite fauna in adelia penguin (pygoscelis adeliae) in an antarctic territory protected zone. Fauna parasitaria gastrointestinal en el pingüino Adelia (Pygoscelis adeliae) de zona antártica especialmente protegida (ZAEP No 150)

Abstract

One hundred and sixty seven fecal samples and three complete digestive tracts obtained from these penguins were analyzed using different parasitological methodologies. The presence of Tetrabothrius spp. eggs (Cestoda: Pseudophyllida), and the observation of Sporozoa oocists and Nematoda eggs both of undetermined species in the fecal samples is reported. In the same way a large number of nematodes identified as Streptocara spp. (Nematoda: Acuariidae) in different evolutionary stages in stomach, and the recovery of a whole 81 cm. Tetrabothrius spp. specimen (without the scolex) and one inmature tapeworm (Cestoda: Cyclophyllida) with unarmed rostellum in guts of Adélie penguins chiks found dead in a protected zone of the Antarctic territory is reported