Exposure to Toxoplasma gondii in Galapagos Penguins (Spheniscus mendiculus) and Flightless Cormorants (Phalacrocorax harrisi) in the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

A study on the Galápagos Islands revealed that both Galapagos Penguins and Flightless Cormorants exhibit exposure to Toxoplasma gondii, a common protozoan parasite. Surprisingly, higher antibody prevalence was found in penguins on Fernandina Island, which lacks feral cats, compared to Isabela Island where cats are present. While the difference was not statistically significant for cormorants, this is the first evidence of T. gondii exposure in these endemic avian species, suggesting potential disease risks linked to the archipelago's feral cat population.

Deem, S. L., Merkel, J., Ballweber, L., Vargas, F. H., Cruz, M. B., & Parker, P. G. (2010). Exposure to Toxoplasma gondii in Galapagos Penguins (Spheniscus mendiculus) and Flightless Cormorants (Phalacrocorax harrisi) in the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 46(3), 1005–1011. https://doi.org/10.7589/0090-3558-46.3.1005