title: Endoparasite survey of free-swimming baleen whales (Balaenoptera musculus, B. physalus, B. borealis) and sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) using non/minimally invasive methods.
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 DNA via 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.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Parasitology, Biomedical Research Center Seltersberg, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Schubertstr. 81, 35392, Giessen, Germany. carlos.r.hermosilla@vetmed.uni-giessen.de.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hermosilla
authors.affiliation: Institute of Parasitology, Biomedical Research Center Seltersberg, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Schubertstr. 81, 35392, Giessen, Germany.
authors.forename: Liliana M R
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Aquaculture and Sea-Ranching, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Rostock, 18059, Rostock, Germany.
authors.forename: Sonja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kleinertz
authors.affiliation: MARE-Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre and IMAR-Institute of Marine Research, University of the Azores, 9901-862, Horta, Portugal.
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Prieto
authors.affiliation: MARE-Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre and IMAR-Institute of Marine Research, University of the Azores, 9901-862, Horta, Portugal.|Biology Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, 02543, USA.
authors.forename: Monica A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Institute of Parasitology, Biomedical Research Center Seltersberg, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Schubertstr. 81, 35392, Giessen, Germany.
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Taubert
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D050616:Balaenoptera / Q000469:parasitology*; D001447:Balantidiasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D001448:Balantidium / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004747:Entamoeba / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004777:Environment; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005872:Giardia / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005873:Giardiasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D010273:Parasitic Diseases, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D011174:Portugal / Q000453:epidemiology; D012867:Skin / Q000469:parasitology; D050661:Sperm Whale / Q000469:parasitology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: B. borealis; B. physalus; Balaenoptera musculus; Balantidium; Giardia; Parasites; Physeter macrocephalus