Absence of Haematozoa in Breeding Macaroni Eudyptes Chrysolophus and Rockhopper E. Chrysocome Penguins at Marion Island

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 rockhopper 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.