IMMUNOLOGICAL SURVEY OF BABESIOSIS (BABESIA-PEIRCEI) AND TOXOPLASMOSIS IN JACKASS PENGUINS IN SOUTH-AFRICA

Babesia peircei was extracted from nucleated erythrocytes of naturally infected Jackass penguin (Spheniscus demersus) from South Africa (SA) . Babesia peircei glycoprotein-enriched fractions were obtained by con canavalin A-Sepharose affinity column chromotography and separated by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). At least 14 protein bands (9, 11, 13, 20, 22, 23, 24, 43, 62, 90, 120 , 204, and 205 kDa) were observed, with the major protein at 25 kDa. B lood samples of 191 adult S. demersus were tested by enzyme-linked imm unosorbent assay (ELISA) utilizing B. peircei glycoprotein-enriched fr actions to defect anti-B. peircei IgG. The samples originated from thr ee groups of free-ranging penguins (n = 110), 1 group of penguins (n = 66) which were rescued after offshore oil-spill contaminations and re habilitated at the South African National foundation for the Conservat ion of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB), and the final group from SANCCOB-resid ent penguins (n = 15). The overall B. peircei seroprevalence was 65 %, and the mean seropositivity ranged from 60 to 71 % among the five pen guin groups. The ELISA appeared to be specific for B. peircei IgG as t ested against Haemoproteus columbae IgG and avian malaria (Plasmodium relictum, and P. elongatum) IgG. Toxoplasma gondii antibody (Ab) were defected by the direct agglutination test using killed T. gondii tachy zoites. All birds were seronegative for T. gondii Ab. The lack of T. g ondii-positive penguins was due to the appropriate sanitary conditions and anti-Toxoplasma prevention procedures utilized by the SANCCOB.