Parasites of The Proserpine Rock-wallaby, Petrogale persephone (Marsupialia: Macropodidae).

Abstract

Twenty specimens of Petrogale persephone were examined for parasites. Nineteen species of helminths, one species of tick, one louse, one mite and two species of intestinal protozoans were recovered. The assemblage of helminth parasites encountered more closely resembled those found in Thylogale species than other species of rock-wallaby. The possible origins of the helminth fauna of P. persephone are discussed. The single species of tick, Haemaphysalis petrogalis, and the louse, Heterodoxus sp. 14, are specific to rock-wallabies, while the mite, Thaddeua serrata has a broader host range. Parasites causing significant lesions in P. persephone were the metacestode of Echinococcus granulosus and the mite T. serrata. Parasites found in small numbers but considered potential disease agents in this host were Globocephaloides macropodis, Hypodontus macropi, Eimeria petrogale and E. sharmani.