Abstract
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.
Highlights
Coccidian parasites are known to infect potoroid marsupials, including the critically endangered woylieS
Morbidity and mortality associated with coccidial infection in free-ranging macropods is uncommon (Vogelnest & Portas, 2008), disease has been documented in macropods under stress
Three distinct morphotypes of sporulated oocysts were identified from the faeces of the eastern bettong and long-nosed potoroo. Based on their size and unique oocyst and sporocyst characters as described by Barker et al (1988) we identified E. gaimardi from the eastern bettong, and E. mundayi and E. potoroi from the long-nosed potoroo
Summary
Coccidian parasites are known to infect potoroid marsupials, including the critically endangered woylie. Godfrey Department of Zoology, University of Otago, 362 Leith Street, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand. Wayne Biodiversity and Conservation Science, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Brain Street, Manjimup, WA 6258, Australia or brush-tailed bettong Bettongia penicillata Gray. Morbidity and mortality associated with coccidial infection in free-ranging macropods is uncommon (Vogelnest & Portas, 2008), disease has been documented in macropods under stress (e.g. the eastern grey kangaroo Macropus giganteus Shaw; Barker et al, 1972). Given the reliance of many threatened species on interventional management practices such as translocation, a process which has been identified as a significant stressor (Hing et al, 2017), it is imperative that we gain a greater understanding of the parasite species infecting wildlife, those with the potential to cause disease in their host (e.g. coccidian parasites)
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