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Evolutionary, molecular and comparative zoology
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REVIEW
Contents Vol 57(4)

A review of mucormycosis in the platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus)

Joanne H. Connolly
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A E. H. Graham Centre (NSW Department of Primary Industries and Charles Sturt University), PO Box 588, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2650, Australia.

B School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Locked Bag 588, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2678, Australia.

C Corresponding author. Email: jconnolly@csu.edu.au

Australian Journal of Zoology 57(4) 235-244 https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO09043
Submitted: 7 April 2009  Accepted: 23 July 2009   Published: 26 October 2009

Abstract

Many infectious agents and parasites have been reported from the platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus), but most do not cause serious disease. The fungus, Mucor amphibiorum, is the only disease agent known to cause significant morbidity and mortality in the free-living platypus in Tasmania. Infection has also been reported in free-ranging cane toads and green tree frogs from mainland Australia, but not confirmed in platypuses from the mainland. This paper reviews mucormycosis in the platypus and includes the epidemiology, clinical features, mycology, pathology as well as possible surveillance, treatment and/or control modalities. The emergence and geographical spread of mucormycosis as a disease entity in Tasmanian platypuses from 1982 till 2005 are discussed. The host, agent and environment factors of the traditional epidemiological paradigm are discussed as they contribute to the conditions that lead to the selection or emergence of Mucor amphibiorum as a pathogen in a population of platypuses.


Acknowledgements

I thank David Obendorf, Richard Whittington, Paul Canfield, Tom Grant, David Goldney, Melody Serena, Barry Munday, Nick Gust, Niall Stewart and Mark Nowakowski, Central North Field Naturalists and the enthusiastic field work volunteers that have worked with me over the years, for their dedication to furthering our understanding of mucormycosis in the platypus. I also thank Geoff Dutton for providing comments on the draft manuscript.


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