Tk. Graczyk et al., AVIAN MALARIA SEROPREVALENCE IN JACKASS PENGUINS (SPHENISCUS-DEMERSUS) IN SOUTH-AFRICA, The Journal of parasitology, 81(5), 1995, pp. 703-707
Blood samples of 191 adult Jackass penguins (Spheniscus demersus) from
South Africa were tested by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assa
ys (ELISA) with Plasmodium falciparum antigen (R32tet(32)) for avian m
alaria antibodies (Ab). The samples originated from free-ranging pengu
ins from offshore islands and southern coast colonies (3 groups, n = 1
10), from 2 penguin groups (n = 66) rescued after offshore oil-spill c
ontamination and rehabilitated at the Rescue Station of the South Afri
can National Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB
) in Cape Town, and from SANCCOB-resident penguins (n = 15). The total
average malaria Ab seroprevalence was 39%, and the mean malaria serop
ositivity ranged from 20% to 62% among the 6 S. demersus groups, with
a mean of 55% for oiled penguins, and 31% for the remaining birds. The
total mean absorbance value was 0.57 for ELISA-positive penguins, 0.4
3 for birds kept at SANCCOB facilities, and 0.70 for the penguins from
wild colonies. The 2 groups of oiled penguins exhibited higher malari
a Ab seroprevalence (38% and 62%) than the 3 groups of non-oiled birds
(29%, 33% and 35%). Malaria Ab seroprevalence of free-ranging penguin
s was significantly lower (P < 0.01) than in the 3 groups of birds at
SANCCOB facilities and did not differ significantly among 3 wild pengu
in colonies.