SEROLOGICAL SURVEY FOR SELECT INFECTIOUS AGENTS IN WILD MAGELLANIC PENGUINS () IN ARGENTINA, 1994-2008

Despite being the most numerous penguin species in South America, exposure of the Magellanic Penguin () to pathogens has not yet been thoroughly assessed. We collected serum from 1,058 Magellanic Penguins at 10 breeding colonies along the entire latitudinal range of this species in Argentina. The work spanned 10 breeding seasons over 15 yr (1994-2008). Sera were tested for antibodies to select infectious agents. Antibodies reacting against 16 pathogens were detected (seroprevalence): sp. (15.1%), (6.5%), Pullorum (3.1%), Typhimurium (81.3%), sp. (18.1%) (23.6%), (0.7%), (3.3%), M41 (43.5%), C46 (59.8%), A99 (37.4%), JMK (40.2%), (0.3%), (44.0%), (43.8%), and (46.6%). No antibodies were detected against nine infectious agents: , , , , , , , , and . While restricted by limitations inherent to serological methods, our results provide baseline knowledge for a key species in the South Atlantic Ocean. This information is valuable for adaptive conservation management in a time of increasing environmental stressors affecting the Patagonian Sea, one of the world's richest pelagic seabird communities.