Helminths of the Magellanic Penguin, Spheniscus magellanicus (Sphenisciformes), During the Breeding Season in Patagonian Coast, Chubut, Argentina

A comprehensive study of the helminth communities in Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) during their breeding season at Península Valdés, Argentina, revealed that all 27 individuals examined were parasitized by at least one of five helminth species. These included Tetrabothrius lutzi (Cestoda), Cardiocephaloides physalis (Digenea), Contracaecum pelagicum and Cosmocephalus obvelatus (Nematoda), and Corynosoma sp. (Acanthocephala). The total mean intensity of helminth infections was 686, highlighting a significant parasitic load in these penguins. This study marks the first documentation of the helminth community composition for this species in Argentina, expanding the known host range of several parasite species and contributing valuable data to our understanding of penguin-parasite dynamics in Patagonian coastal ecosystems.

Diaz, J. I., Cremonte, F., & Navone, G. T. (2010). Helminths of the Magellanic Penguin, Spheniscus magellanicus (Sphenisciformes), During the Breeding Season in Patagonian Coast, Chubut, Argentina. Comparative Parasitology, 77(2), 172–177. https://doi.org/10.1654/4441.1