TDK conference 2020

The Procellariidae (petrels and shearwaters) of the Western Indian Ocean, though of high conservation

concern, have been understudied epidemiologically. As a highly gregarious group of species capable of

covering wide geographic distributions, petrels and shearwaters and their associated ectoparasites could

play a key epidemiological role in this region. Vector-borne infections may affect seabird populations by

causing premature death or reducing breeding success in colonies. This preliminary investigation of

infectious agents diversity in the endemic Barau’s petrel (Pterodroma baraui) and the wedge-tailed

shearwater (Ardenna pacifica) was conducted through the laboratory analysis of biological samples (blood

and oropharyngeal/cloacal swabs) obtained from 103 wedge-tailed shearwaters and 35 Barau’s petrels.

After conducting serological and molecular tests (ELISA, PCR), none of the sample tested positive for

targeted infectious agents (e.g. avian influenza virus [AIV], West Nile virus [WNV], infectious bronchitis

disease virus [IBDV], Mycoplasma sp., Salmonella B +D, Plasmodium sp., Leucocytozoon sp.), except for

Haemoproteus sp. Further investigations and laboratory analyses are needed in order to validate

preliminary findings as well as further tests on other infectious agents of these highly conservation

dependent species.