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1 July 1998 SARCOCYSTIS MUCOSA IN BENNETTS WALLABIES AND PADEMELONS FROM TASMANIA
Kathryn A. Jakes
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Abstract

Macroscopic gastrointestinal sarcocysts were detected in 36 of 270 (13%) Tasmanian pademelons (Thylogale billardierii) and 47 of 292 (16%) Bennetts wallabies (Macropus rufogriseus) from January 1995 to March 1996 at onshore and offshore study sites in Tasmania (Australia). The sarcocysts were characterized using light and electron microscopy. The ultrastructure of the primary cyst wall was consistent with that of Sarcocystis mucosa, an apicomplexan parasite commonly found in macropodid marsupials. Although conventional statistical tests were not applied to data, there were apparent differences in the prevalence of infection in macropodid marsupials inhabiting onshore (19%) versus offshore (0%) sites. These differences were attributed to the presence or absence of medium-sized dasyurid marsupials. The results of this study provide strong circumstantial evidence that these dasyurid marsupials are the probable definitive hosts for S. mucosa in free-ranging Tasmanian macropodids.

Jakes: SARCOCYSTIS MUCOSA IN BENNETTS WALLABIES AND PADEMELONS FROM TASMANIA
Kathryn A. Jakes "SARCOCYSTIS MUCOSA IN BENNETTS WALLABIES AND PADEMELONS FROM TASMANIA," Journal of Wildlife Diseases 34(3), 594-599, (1 July 1998). https://doi.org/10.7589/0090-3558-34.3.594
Received: 20 August 1997; Published: 1 July 1998
KEYWORDS
Bennetts wallaby
Dasyurus spp
macropodid marsupial
Macropus rufogriseus
sarcocyst
Sarcocystis mucosa
Tasmanian pademelon
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