MATERNAL TRANSFER OF ANTI-ASPERGILLUS SPP IMMUNOGLOBULINS IN AFRICAN BLACK-FOOTED PENGUINS (SPHENISCUS-DEMERSUS)

Anti-Aspergillus spp. antibody(Ab) levels of seven mating pairs of cap tive African penguins (Spheniscus demersus) and the maternal Ab levels of their embryonated and unembryonated eggs were determined by ELISA. The egg Ab levels were significantly higher than the Ab levels of the ir female or male parents. Maternal Ab of unembryonated eggs and Ab of the embryos were significantly correlated with the Ab levels of their female parents. Because eggs can be sampled where adult penguins are not accessible, this technique can be applied for prediction of Asperg illus spp. Ab titers of penguin females in wild populations.