Resumo A aspergilose caracteriza-se por ser a principal causa de mortalidade de pinguins em cativeiro. A infecção pelo gênero Aspergillus ocorre principalmente por via aérea, porém o fungo pode ter dispersão pela água. Neste sentido, este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a água do tanque onde os pinguins-de-Magalhães permanecem para reabilitação no Centro de Recuperação de Animais Marinhos de Rio Grande, RS, Brasil, quanto à presença de fungos filamentosos do gênero Aspergillus. As amostras de água foram coletadas semanalmente durante um período de 10 meses e processadas em um período máximo de seis horas utilizando-se a técnica da membrana filtrante, com incubação a 25 ºC e 37 ºC por até sete dias. Das 40 amostras analisadas, 32 foram positivas para o isolamento do gênero Aspergillus, sendo que dessas 60% pertenciam à espécie A. fumigatus. Algumas variáveis interferiram significativamente no isolamento do gênero Aspergillus e/ou da espécie A. fumigatus, como temperatura de incubação, sazonalidade e densidade populacional. Este trabalho demonstra que Aspergillus spp. está presente na água, podendo essa ser uma potencial fonte de infecção para os pinguins em reabilitação.

Abstract Aspergillosis is the main cause of mortality in captivity penguins. The infection occurs mainly by conidia inhalation of the Aspergillus genus, however, the fungus can also be dispersed by water. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate water quality of the pool where the rehabilitated penguins remain at Centro de Recuperação de Animais Marinhos in Rio Grande city, Brazil, searching for the presence of the fungus Aspergillus spp. Water samples were collected weekly during a ten-month period and processed within six hours, applying the technique of filtrating membrane, with incubation at 25 ºC and 37 ºC during seven days. Of the forty samples analyzed, thirty-two were positive for the presence of Aspergillus genus, from these 60% correspond to A. fumigatus. Some variables significantly interfered on the isolation of Aspergillus genus and/or Aspergillus fumigatus specie, such as incubation temperature, seasonality and population density. This study showed Aspergillus spp. is present in the water, being one of the possible sources of infections for penguins in rehabilitation.

To investigate the exposure of the Newcastle disease virus (NDV), infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) and avian poxvirus (APV) in Magellanic penguins found on the beaches in Southern regions of Brazil, the frequency of serum antibodies was estimated in 89 samples taken during 2005 and 2006. All the penguins were negative for the presence of antibodies against NDV by hemagglutination inhibition test and to APV by indirect ELISA. The reactivity was similar to the positives controls using ELISA kit for the IBDV made in the chickens in 50 samples. This reactivity also was demonstrated in 42 samples using agar gel immunodiffusion. No clinical signs related to IBDV infection were observed. The results indicated the absence of infection by NDV and APV but suggested IBDV exposure in the population of penguins studied.