The parasite assemblages of Zyzomys argurus (Thomas, 1889) (Muridae : Murinae) from northern Australia
H. J. Weaver A B D and L. R. Smales A CA College of Sciences, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, Qld 4702, Australia.
B National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia.
C Parasitology Section, South Australian Museum, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia.
D Corresponding author. Email: weaver.haylee@gmail.com
Australian Journal of Zoology 57(6) 429-432 https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO09099
Submitted: 29 July 2009 Accepted: 24 December 2009 Published: 8 February 2010
Abstract
In this study, we present an analysis of the ecto- and endoparasite fauna of Zyzomys argurus from Queensland and the Northern Territory. The finding of the louse Hoplopleura zyzomydis, and the nematodes Syphacia abertoni and S. boodjamullaensis, together with the new host records for Nippostrongylus sp., Aspiculuris tetraptera and Raillietina sp., have increased the number of parasites known from Z. argurus from 18 to 24, and provide the first records of parasites from Z. argurus from central and eastern Australia. Analysis of the assemblage of parasites found from Z. argurus appears to indicate that, while intraspecific transmission of parasites is relatively common, host-switching from other species is not. The ecology of Z. argurus appears to be the main determinant of its depauperate parasite fauna.
Acknowledgements
The authors thank Greg Bartley, Lauren Keliher, the late Darryl Mason, Darryll Christensen, Martin Bakker, the Lord Family, Sandra Hagen, Heather Janetzki and Steve Van Dyck for access to trapping sites and rodents; and Dave Spratt, Ian Beveridge, Matthew Shaw and Peter O’Donoghue for assistance with parasite identifications. Trapping was conducted in accordance with Queensland Environmental Protection Authority Scientific Purposes permits (numbers WISP1548303 and WITK01617103) and Central Queensland University Animal Experimentation Ethics Committee clearance (number 03–10/152). This work was partly funded by a grant from the Australian Biological Resources Study (to LRS) and a Central Queensland University postgraduate scholarship (to HJW).
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