Identification of a novel species of Eimeria Schneider, 1875 from the woylie, Bettongia penicillata Gray (Diprotodontia: Potoroidae) and the genetic characterisation of three Eimeria spp. from other potoroid marsupials.

Faecal samples (n = 1,093) collected from the woylie Bettongia penicillata Gray, in south-western Australia were examined for the presence of coccidian parasites. Eimeria sp. oöcysts were detected in 15.2% of samples. Faecal samples obtained from the eastern bettong Bettongia gaimardi (Desmarest) (n = 4) and long-nosed potoroo Potorous tridactylus (Kerr) (n = 12) in Tasmania, were also screened for the presence of Eimeria spp. (prevalence 50% and 41.7%, respectively). Morphological and genetic comparison with other known species of Eimeria indicates that the material identified in woylies is novel. This study aimed to (i) morphologically describe and genetically characterise Eimeria woyliei n. sp. found in woylies; and (ii) genetically characterise Eimeria gaimardi Barker, O'Callaghan & Beveridge, 1988, Eimeria potoroi Barker, O'Callaghan & Beveridge, 1988, and Eimeria mundayi Barker, O'Callaghan & Beveridge, 1988, from other potoroid marsupials. Molecular phylogenetic analyses conducted at the 18S rDNA and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) loci revealed that E. woyliei n. sp. was most closely related to Eimeria setonicis Barker, O'Callaghan & Beveridge, 1988, at the 18S rDNA locus, and Eimeria trichosuri O'Callaghan & O'Donoghue, 2001, at the cox1 locus. Eimeria woyliei n. sp. is the sixth species of Eimeria to be formally described from potoroid marsupials.

A new species of Potoroxyuris (Nematoda: Oxyuridae) from the woylie Bettongia penicillata (Marsupialia: Potoroidae) from southwestern Australia.

Potoroxyuris keninupensis n.sp. (Nematoda: Oxyuridae) is described based on specimens recovered from the caecum and colon of two woylies, Bettongia penicillata (Marsupialia: Potoroidae) from Western Australia. Only one other species of Potoroxyuris has been described previously, Potoroxyuris potoroo (Johnston and Mawson, 1939) Mawson, 1964, from Potorous tridactylus. The new species is most easily differentiated from P. potoroo by the shape of the pharyngeal lobes. The pharyngeal lobes of P. keninupensis n. sp. are widest at the base while those of P. potoroo are widest at the tip. The genus Potoroxyuris most closely resembles Macropoxyuris based especially on structures of the caudal end of males. The other three genera of oxyurids known to infect Australian marsupials have longer caudal alae, and more caudal papillae than these two genera. The genus Potoroxyuris has previously been defined by the characteristic that the pharyngeal lobes protrude through the oral opening. However, the pharyngeal lobes of P. keninupensis n. sp. do not quite protrude, so the definition of the genus should be modified as follows. The genus Potoroxyuris can be easily differentiated from Macropoxyuris by the following differences in the morphology of the buccal cavity. The pharyngeal lobes of Potoroxyuris almost reach the oral opening, or protrude beyond it, whereas those of Macropoxyuris only reach to about the anterior third of the buccal cavity. The buccal cavity of Potoroxyuris is poorly cuticularized compared to Macropoxyuris and other genera of oxyurids known from Australian marsupials, and does not contain inter-radial lamellae.

The veterinary and public health significance of hookworm in dogs and cats in Australia and the status of A. ceylanicum.

There is no current information regarding the prevalence of hookworm in Australian dogs and cats and based on the results of studies conducted over 20 years ago, where high prevalences of helminths were recorded, the prophylactic administration of broad spectrum anthelmintics has been advocated. During this study, faecal samples were collected from dogs (n=1391) and cats (n=1027) across Australia. Samples were examined by microscopy and information regarding the demographics of each animal, and the management practices they experienced were recorded. A highly sensitive and species-specific PCR-RFLP technique was utilized to differentiate the various hookworm species which can infect dogs and cats directly from eggs in faeces. The prevalence of hookworm in dogs and cats was found to be 6.9% and 1.4%, respectively. Ancylostoma ceylanicum was detected for the first time in Australia in 10.9% of the dogs found positive for hookworm. Significantly, A. ceylanicum is capable of causing a patent infection in humans. After adjusting for other factors with multiple logistic regression, dogs from refuges, dogs originating from a tropical climatic zone, dogs aged 1 year or less, and those dogs which had not received anthelmintics were significantly more likely to be parasitized. Only univariate analysis was conducted for the cats as there were too few samples positive for hookworm. Cats were more likely to be infected with hookworm if they were from refuges, originated from a tropical climatic zone, and had not received treatment with anthelmintics. The results of this study demonstrates the importance of having current information regarding the prevalence of parasites of dogs and cats and the risk factors associated with infection, as well as the need to reassess the veterinary and public health concerns regarding hookworm infection and its control, which are currently based on out-dated information.

Micropleura australiensis n. sp. (Nematoda: Micropleuridae) from the body cavity of Crocodylus johnsoni in Western Australia.

A new nematode species, Micropleura australiensis n. sp., is described on the basis of specimens found in the peritoneal cavity of the Australian freshwater crocodile, Crocodylus johnsoni Krefft, from the Ord River area, Western Australia. The new species is mainly characterized by the length of spicules (0.360-0.366 mm) and gubernaculum (0.096-0.105 mm), the number and arrangement of male caudal papillae (4 preanal and 6 postanal pairs), and the postequatorial vulva. To date, it is the first species of Micropleura reported from Australia. Micropleura trionyxi Agrawal, 1966, and M. lissemysia Chattervati, 1985, are considered junior synonyms of M. indica Khera, 1951.

Morphology is not a reliable tool for delineating species within Cryptosporidium.

Within the coccidia, morphological features of the oocyst stage at the light microscope level have been used more than any other single characteristic to designate genus and species. The aim of this study was to conduct morphometric analysis on a range of Cryptosporidium spp. isolates and to compare morphological data between several genotypes of C. parvum and a second species C. canis, as well as a variation within a specific genotype (the human genotype), with genetic data at 2 unlinked loci (18S ribonucleic deoxyribonucleic acid and HSP 70) to evaluate the usefulness of morphometric data in delineating species within Cryptosporidium. Results indicate that morphology could not differentiate between oocysts from C. parvum genotypes and oocysts from C. canis, whereas genetic analysis clearly differentiated between the two. The small size of the Cryptosporidium spp. oocyst, combined with the very limited characters for analysis, suggests that more reliance should be placed on genetic differences, combined with biological variation, when delineating species within Cryptosporidium.