Epidemiological Observations on the Helminth Parasites of Macropus Giganteus Shaw in Victoria.

Abstract

An epidemiological study of the nematode parasites of the eastern grey kangaroo (M. giganteus) was made in an enclosed reserve north of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Adult and juvenile kangaroos were collected at approximately 6-weekly intervals and blood, faeces and the entire gastrointestinal tract was obtained. The nematodes present were Globocephaloides trifidospicularis, Rugopharynx australis, R. rosemariae, Pharyngostrongylus kappa, Cloacina spp., Strongyloides sp., Macropostrongylus baylisi, Paramacropostrongylus toraliformis, Alocostoma clelandi, Labiostrongylus spp., Macroponema comani and Macropoxyuris. The majority of nematodes had a seasonal fluctuation. Acquisition commenced in late summer and reached a peak in midwinter before declining in spring. G. trifidospicularis caused considerable mortality in juvenile kangaroos and there was a strong relationship between rising numbers of this species and falling plasma protein, haemoglobin concentration and haematocrit values. This species can cause heavy mortality in juvenile kangaroos in enclosed populations when winter feed is depleted and when the small animals with no fat reserves experience maximum cold stress. Other parasites present included Progamotaenia ewersi, P. festiva, P. macropodis, Triplotaenia fimbriata, T. undosa, Eimeria wilcanniensis, E. macropodis, E. hestermani and E. marsupialum.

The Efficacy of Anthelmintic Drugs Against Nematodes Infecting Free-Ranging Eastern Grey Kangaroos, Macropus Giganteus

“…Instead, the results of the LDA suggest that one or more nematode species (at the larval stage) are naturally tolerant to macrocyclic lactones. Unfortunately, identification to species of the third-stage larvae of kangaroo nematodes is not possible due to morphologic similarities (Arundel et al, 1990); therefore, molecular genotyping would be the only means of determining which nematode species were tolerant.…”

“…Juveniles are particularly susceptible to the effects of gastrointestinal parasitism, largely from the intestinal trichostrongylid nematode Globocephaloides trifidospicularis, and can experience high mortality in their first winter postweaning (Quin, 1989;Arundel et al, 1990). Adult kangaroos do not appear to exhibit the same degree of winter mortality, which suggests that they progressively acquire immunity to G. trifidospicularis (Arundel et al, 1990). Kangaroo populations can reach high densities (Coulson, 2001), favoring parasite transmission.…”

“…Macropodid marsupials, such as the eastern grey kangaroo (Macropus giganteus), carry a diverse fauna of gastrointestinal parasites (Beveridge and Arundel, 1979) with marked seasonal fluctuations in worm burdens (Arundel et al, 1990). Juveniles are particularly susceptible to the effects of gastrointestinal parasitism, largely from the intestinal trichostrongylid nematode Globocephaloides trifidospicularis, and can experience high mortality in their first winter postweaning (Quin, 1989;Arundel et al, 1990).…”

Exploding kangaroos: assessing problems and setting targets

“…Clusters of kangaroos were marooned on islands at unnaturally high density with little food, and the damp soil was ideal for development of Coccidia oocysts (Barker et al 1972). Arundel et al (1990) investigated mass mortality of eastern grey kangaroos in the high density population at Yan Yean during the winters of 1971 and 1972; again most of the affected animals were juveniles, suffering anaemia associated with heavy burdens of gastric nematodes. Caughley's (1981) fourth category is the loss of equilibrium between an animal population and its food resources.…”

Resurrection and redescription of Globocephaloides wallabiae Johnston et Mawson, 1939 (Nematoda, Trichostrongyloidea) from macropodid marsupials in north-eastern Australia

“…Both G. trifidospicularis and G. macropodis have a wide host range and distribution compared with G. affinis, which is apparently restricted to Macropus dorsalis (Gray, 1837). The epidemiology and prevalence of G. trifidospicularis in the south-eastern areas of Australia have been investigated based on relatively extensive parasite collections (Arundel et al 1977(Arundel et al , 1990Obendorf et al 1991;Webley et al 2004). By contrast, little information is available for G. macropodis, which has been reported from northern and eastern regions of Australia (Beveridge 1979, Beveridge et al 1984.…”