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Blood parasites in endangered wildlife-trypanosomes discovered during a survey of haemoprotozoa from the Tasmanian devil
Citation
Egan, SL and Ruiz-Aravena, M and Austen, JM and Barton, X and Comte, S and Hamilton, DG and Hamede, RK and Ryan, UM and Irwin, PJ and Jones, ME and Oskam, CL, Blood parasites in endangered wildlife-trypanosomes discovered during a survey of haemoprotozoa from the Tasmanian devil, Pathogens, 9, (11) Article 873. ISSN 2076-0817 (2020) [Refereed Article]
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DOI: doi:10.3390/pathogens9110873
Abstract
he impact of emerging infectious diseases is increasingly recognised as a major threat to wildlife. Wild populations of the endangered Tasmanian devil, Sarcophilus harrisii, are experiencing devastating losses from a novel transmissible cancer, devil facial tumour disease (DFTD); however, despite the rapid decline of this species, there is currently no information on the presence of haemoprotozoan parasites. In the present study, 95 Tasmanian devil blood samples were collected from four populations in Tasmania, Australia, which underwent molecular screening to detect four major groups of haemoprotozoa: (i) trypanosomes, (ii) piroplasms, (iii) Hepatozoon, and (iv) haemosporidia. Sequence results revealed Trypanosoma infections in 32/95 individuals. Trypanosoma copemani was identified in 10 Tasmanian devils from three sites and a second Trypanosoma sp. was identified in 22 individuals that were grouped within the poorly described T. cyclops clade. A single blood sample was positive for Babesia sp., which most closely matched Babesia lohae. No other blood protozoan parasite DNA was detected. This study provides the first insight into haemoprotozoa from the Tasmanian devil and the first identification of Trypanosoma and Babesia in this carnivorous marsupial.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | Tasmanian devil, Sarcophilus harrisii, Haemoprotozoa, Trypanosoma, Marsupial, devil facial tumour disease (DFTD), pathogens |
| Research Division: | Biological Sciences |
| Research Group: | Ecology |
| Research Field: | Ecology not elsewhere classified |
| Objective Division: | Environmental Management |
| Objective Group: | Terrestrial systems and management |
| Objective Field: | Control of pests, diseases and exotic species in terrestrial environments |
| UTAS Author: | Comte, S (Mr Sebastien Comte) |
| UTAS Author: | Hamilton, DG (Mr David Hamilton) |
| UTAS Author: | Hamede, RK (Dr Rodrigo Hamede Ross) |
| UTAS Author: | Jones, ME (Professor Menna Jones) |
| ID Code: | 142723 |
| Year Published: | 2020 |
| Deposited By: | Zoology |
| Deposited On: | 2021-02-09 |
| Last Modified: | 2021-02-09 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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