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Debilitating disease in a polyparasitised woylie (Bettongia penicillata): A diagnostic investigation
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Debilitating disease in a polyparasitised woylie (Bettongia penicillata): A diagnostic investigation

A.S. Northover, A.D. Elliot, S. Keatley, Z. Lim, A. Botero Gomez, A. Ash, A.J. Lymbery, A.F. Wayne, S.S. Godfrey and R.C.A. Thompson
International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife, Vol.7(3), pp.274-279
2018
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Abstract

During monitoring of critically endangered woylie (Bettongia penicillata) populations within the south-west of Western Australia, an adult female woylie was euthanased after being found in extremely poor body condition with diffuse alopecia, debilitating skin lesions and severe ectoparasite infestation. Trypanosoma copemani G2 and Sarcocystis sp. were detected molecularly within tissue samples collected post-mortem. Potorostrongylus woyliei and Paraustrostrongylus sp. nematodes were present within the stomach and small intestine, respectively. Blood collected ante-mortem revealed the presence of moderate hypomagnesaemia, mild hypokalaemia, mild hyperglobulinaemia and mild hypoalbuminaemia. Diffuse megakaryocytic hypoplasia was evident within the bone marrow. We propose various hypotheses that may explain the presence of severe ectoparasite infection, skin disease and poor body condition in this woylie. Given the potential deleterious effects of parasite infection, the importance of monitoring parasites cannot be over-emphasised.

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Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
International collaboration
Citation topics
1 Clinical & Life Sciences
1.261 Parasitology - Trypanosoma & Leishmania
1.261.596 Trypanosoma Biology
Web Of Science research areas
Ecology
Parasitology
ESI research areas
Plant & Animal Science
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