Myxidium immersum (Lutz, 1889), a gall-bladder protozoan parasite from South American Anura, is described for the first time in some Australian Anura. The cane toad, Bufo marinus, one of its natural hosts in South America, was introduced into Australia in 1935, and this led to the infection of native Australian frogs including: Hylidae, 12 species of Litoria; Myobatrachidae, four species of Limnodynastes, one each of Mixophyes, Ranidella and Uperoleia. Scanning electron microscope observations on the spore are reported. A synopsis of the Myxidium species in amphibians is presented. In explaining the present distribution of M. immersum in Australia, it is suggested that the life cycle of Myxidium species in amphibians involves an intermediate host which may become infected by swallowing trophozoites and spores; the tadpole may become infected by feeding on the intermediate host.

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A survey of the protozoan parasites of the introduced South American cane toad, Bufo marinus, was conducted between 1983 and 1984 in Queensland. In all, 267 fully grown specimens, 7 juveniles and 115 tadpoles were checked for blood, cloaca, gall bladder and, for the tadpoles only, skin protozoans, and results are compared with records of the toad's protozoans in South America. Results show that Bufo marinus has not retained any of its native blood protozoans, and that it has introduced species of intestinal and gall bladder protozoans: Trichomitus batrachorum; Zelleriella antilliensis; Hyalodaktylethra renacuajo n.g. (=Saccamoeba renacuajo); and, Myxidium immersum. The toad has adopted at least three species of native protoopalinids: Protoopalina australis; P. hylarum; and, P. raffae. The intestinal flagellates Chilomastix caulleryi, Retortamonas dobelli, Giardia agilis, Spiro- nucleus elegans, and Monocercomonas batrachorum are all new records for B. marinus. Undetermined species of Nyctotheroides were observed in the cloaca. A species of Trichodina is reported for the first time on the skin of the toad's tadpoles.

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During 1988 and 1989, 409 specimens of southern African Anura, comprising 50 species in 9 families, were checked for opalinids in the cloaca. Protozelleriella devilliersi n. g., n. sp. was found in three of four Capensibufo rosei (Bufonidae); Zelleriella africana Sandon, 1938 in two of three Bufo angusticeps and one of 20 B. garmani (Bufonidae) plus three of 12 Phrynobatrachus natalensis, 12 of 19 Tomopterna cryptotis, seven of 14 T. delalandii, three of seven T. krugerensis and one of six T. natalensis (all Ranidae); Z. gambieri n. sp. in one of six T. natalensis; Z. garlandi n. sp. in two of six Kassina maculata (Hyperoliidae); Z. sandoni n. sp. in two of 20 B. garmani, two of six K. maculata, one of seven K. senegalensis and one of four Leptopelis mossambicus (Hyperoliidae) plus one of five Phrynomerus bifasciatus (Microhylidae) and two of 19 T. cryptotis. It is suggested that the Ranidae (in particular the genus Tomopterna) and the Hyperoliidae are among the major carriers of Zelleriella in the Afrotropical Region.