Addressing Emerging Pathogens and Parasites in the Galápagos Islands

Abstract

Introduced pathogens and parasites pose a threat to endemic Galápagos species. I examine the Galápagos penguin (Spheniscus mendiculus) as a case study for the threat of introduced diseases in the Galápagos Islands. I show that the Galápagos penguin is especially susceptible to introduced diseases due to population fluctuations, low MHC (major histocompatibility complex) diversity, and immunological naivety. I determine that the Galápagos penguin is at risk of contracting diseases from domestic chickens, cats, and the introduced Culex quinquefasciatus mosquito. El Niño events may compromise the immune system of the Galápagos penguin, increasing susceptibility to introduced parasites including Plasmodium spp., the causal agent of avian malaria, and Toxoplasma gondii. The findings lead me to recommend new policy and management practices, including heightened surveillance of disease, strengthened fumigation protocols, and development of outreach programs to educate locals about transmission of disease in livestock.