Carla A Culda, Rommel Lenin Vinueza, Marjorie Riofrío-Lazo, Renato Leon, Diego Páez-Rosas, Andrei Daniel Mihalca
{"title":"Patent <i>Dirofilaria immitis</i> infection in Galapagos sea lion rookeries in San Cristóbal Island.","authors":"Carla A Culda, Rommel Lenin Vinueza, Marjorie Riofrío-Lazo, Renato Leon, Diego Páez-Rosas, Andrei Daniel Mihalca","doi":"10.1017/S0031182025100425","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The Galapagos sea lion (<i>Zalophus wollebaeki</i>) is an endemic and endangered species that plays a vital role in the ecosystem dynamics of the archipelago. In recent decades, they have faced a significant population decline, related to the effects of climate variability and anthropogenic influences. Thus, the co-occurrence of sea lion resting areas with mosquito breeding sites and the presence of free-roaming domestic dogs present significant health risks related to parasite transmission. This research demonstrates the occurrence of <i>Dirofilaria immitis</i> (canine heartworm) in <i>Z. wollebaeki</i>, indicating their possible function as a definitive host for this parasite. Blood samples collected in August 2023 from 50 individuals (juveniles and adults) in 2 rookeries of San Cristóbal Island, revealed a 2% prevalence of <i>D. immitis</i> in juvenile females, as confirmed by Knott's test and polymerase chain reaction analysis. Results of this work emphasize the critical necessity for effective monitoring and conservation strategies to address the threat posed by <i>D. immitis</i> and to safeguard this endangered species.</p>","PeriodicalId":19967,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology","volume":" ","pages":"1-6"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4000,"publicationDate":"2025-07-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Parasitology","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1017/S0031182025100425","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"PARASITOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
The Galapagos sea lion (Zalophus wollebaeki) is an endemic and endangered species that plays a vital role in the ecosystem dynamics of the archipelago. In recent decades, they have faced a significant population decline, related to the effects of climate variability and anthropogenic influences. Thus, the co-occurrence of sea lion resting areas with mosquito breeding sites and the presence of free-roaming domestic dogs present significant health risks related to parasite transmission. This research demonstrates the occurrence of Dirofilaria immitis (canine heartworm) in Z. wollebaeki, indicating their possible function as a definitive host for this parasite. Blood samples collected in August 2023 from 50 individuals (juveniles and adults) in 2 rookeries of San Cristóbal Island, revealed a 2% prevalence of D. immitis in juvenile females, as confirmed by Knott's test and polymerase chain reaction analysis. Results of this work emphasize the critical necessity for effective monitoring and conservation strategies to address the threat posed by D. immitis and to safeguard this endangered species.
期刊介绍:
Parasitology is an important specialist journal covering the latest advances in the subject. It publishes original research and review papers on all aspects of parasitology and host-parasite relationships, including the latest discoveries in parasite biochemistry, molecular biology and genetics, ecology and epidemiology in the context of the biological, medical and veterinary sciences. Included in the subscription price are two special issues which contain reviews of current hot topics, one of which is the proceedings of the annual Symposia of the British Society for Parasitology, while the second, covering areas of significant topical interest, is commissioned by the editors and the editorial board.