Trypanosomes in a declining species of threatened Australian marsupial, the brush-tailed bettong Bettongia penicillata (Marsupialia: Potoroidae)

A. Smith; P. Clark; S. Averis; A.J. Lymbery; A.F. Wayne; K.D. Morris; R.C.A. Thompson

doi:10.1017/S0031182008004824

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Trypanosomes in a declining species of threatened Australian marsupial, the brush-tailed bettong Bettongia penicillata (Marsupialia: Potoroidae)

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Trypanosomes in a declining species of threatened Australian marsupial, the brush-tailed bettong Bettongia penicillata (Marsupialia: Potoroidae)

A. Smith, P. Clark, S. Averis, A.J. Lymbery, A.F. Wayne, K.D. Morris and R.C.A. Thompson

Parasitology, Vol.135(11), pp.1329-1335

2008

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0031182008004824

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Abstract

The brush-tailed bettong (Bettongia penicillata), or woylie, is a medium-sized macropod marsupial that has undergone a rapid and substantial decline throughout its home range in the Upper Warren region of Western Australia over a period of approximately 5 years. As part of an investigation into possible causes of the decline a morphologically distinct Trypanosoma sp. was discovered by light microscopy in the declining population but was absent in a stable population within the Karakamia Wildlife Sanctuary. Further investigations employing molecular methods targeting variations in the 18s rRNA gene determined that the trypanosome was novel and was also present within the Karakamia population albeit at a much lower overall prevalence and individual parasitaemia levels. Phylogenetic analysis suggests the novel Trypanosoma sp. to be closely related to other trypanosomes isolated from native Australian wildlife species. Although it appears unlikely that the parasite is solely responsible for the decline in woylie population size, it may (singularly or in conjunction with other infectious agents) predispose woylies to increased mortality.

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Title: Trypanosomes in a declining species of threatened Australian marsupial, the brush-tailed bettong Bettongia penicillata (Marsupialia: Potoroidae)
Authors/Creators: A. Smith (Author/Creator) - Murdoch University
P. Clark (Author/Creator) - Murdoch University
S. Averis (Author/Creator) - Murdoch University
A.J. Lymbery (Author/Creator) - Murdoch University
A.F. Wayne (Author/Creator) - Department of Environment and Conservation
K.D. Morris (Author/Creator) - Science Division, Department of Environment and Conservation, Wildlife Place, Woodvale WA 6026, Australia
R.C.A. Thompson (Author/Creator) - Murdoch University
Publication Details: Parasitology, Vol.135(11), pp.1329-1335
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Identifiers: 991005544398907891
Copyright: © 2008 Cambridge University Press
Murdoch Affiliation: School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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Citation topics: 1 Clinical & Life Sciences; 1.261 Parasitology - Trypanosoma & Leishmania; 1.261.596 Trypanosoma Biology
Web Of Science research areas: Parasitology
ESI research areas: Microbiology