Helminth and protozoan parasites of the alimentary tract of the yellow‐eyed penguin (Megadyptes antipodes)

Abstract

Faecal samples from yellow‐eyed penguins, Megadyptes antipodes, were collected at Boulder Beach, Otago Peninsula, New Zealand, between July and September 1993, and examined for helminth eggs and protozoa. Infestation levels were generally low. Ascaridoid nematode eggs were present, as were coccidial oocysts of the genus Eimeria. The alimentary tracts of yellow‐eyed penguin chicks and one juvenile were examined for helminths. 95% of the penguins were infested with nematodes, but infestation levels were low, and only 12% of the nematodes recovered were adult. Almost all nematodes recovered were ascaridoids, and those that could be identified belonged to the genus Contracaecum. Acanthocephalans were recovered from two birds. Yellow‐eyed penguins, in this study, had low burdens of gut parasites, suggesting that the parasites do not threaten the survival of the penguins.

Key words:

• yellow‐eyed penguin
• Megadyptes antipodes
• nematode
• Contracaecum
• coccidial protozoa
• Eimeria
• Acanthocephala