Skip to main content

    Absence of haematozoa in breeding macaroni Eudyptes chrysolophus and rockhopper E. chrysocome penguins at
    Marion Island

    Request Meeting Document
    Document Number:
    WG-EMM-03/19
    Author(s):
    A. Schultz and S.L. Petersen (South Africa)
    Agenda Item(s)
    Abstract

    Haematozoan infections cause the death of penguins in captivity, but seldom in the wild. No haematozoa were found in 89 blood smears taken from macaroni penguins Eudyptes chrysolophus or 80 smears from eastern rock-hopper penguins E. chrysocome filholi at subantarctic Marion Island between October and November 2001. Discussion centres on the possibility of vector introduction and establishment under conditions of climatic and/or anthropogenic change.