Endoparasite survey of free-swimming baleen whales (Balaenoptera musculus, B. physalus, B. borealis) and sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) using non/minimally invasive methods

Autor:
Hermosilla, C.; Silva, L.M.R.; Kleinertz, S.; Prieto, R.; Silva, M.A.; Taubert, A.
In:

Parasitology Research

ISBN: 1432-1955 (Online) (0932-0113 (Print))
DOI: 10.1007/s00436-015-4835-y
Jahr: 2015

Einordung:
Institut: Professur Aquakultur und Sea-Ranching

Abstract:
A number of parasitic diseases have gained importance
as neozoan opportunistic infections in the marine environment.
Here, we report on the gastrointestinal endoparasite
fauna of three baleen whale species and one toothed whale:
blue (Balaenoptera musculus), fin (Balaenoptera physalus),
and sei whales (Balaenoptera borealis) and sperm whales
(Physeter macrocephalus) from the Azores Islands, Portugal.
In total, 17 individual whale fecal samples [n=10
(B. physalus); n=4 (P. macrocephalus); n=2 (B. musculus);
n=1 (B. borealis)] were collected from free-swimming animals
as part of ongoing studies on behavioral ecology.
Furthermore, skin biopsies were collected from sperm whales
(n=5) using minimally invasive biopsy darting and tested for
the presence of Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum, and
Besnoitia besnoiti DNAvia PCR. Overall, more than ten taxa
were detected in whale fecal samples.Within protozoan parasites,
Entamoeba spp. occurred most frequently (64.7 %),
followed by Giardia spp. (17.6 %) and Balantidium spp.
(5.9 %). The most prevalent metazoan parasites were
Ascaridida indet. spp. (41.2 %), followed by trematodes
(17.7 %), acanthocephalan spp., strongyles (11.8 %),
Diphyllobotrium spp. (5.9 %), and spirurids (5.9 %).
Helminths were mainly found in sperm whales, while enteric
protozoan parasites were exclusively detected in baleen
whales, which might be related to dietary differences. No
T. gondii, N. caninum, or B. besnoiti DNA was detected in
any skin sample. This is the first record on Giardia and
Balantidium infections in large baleen whales.
Keywords Balaenoptera musculus . B. borealis .
B. physalus . Physeter macrocephalus . Parasites . Giardia .
Balantidium

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