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

Abstract

Globocephaloides wallabiae Johnston et Mawson, 1939, is resurrected as a valid species and is redescribed. G. wallabiae is distinguished from its closest congener, G. macropodis Yorke et Maplestone, 1926, by the spicules (length and tip) and pattern of the bursal rays. G. wallabiae occurs commonly in Macropus dorsalis (Gray, 1837) in north-eastern Queensland, but is also present in Petrogale mareeba Eldridge et Close, 1992 and P. assimilis Ramsay, 1877. By contrast, G. macropodis is found commonly in M. agilis (Gould, 1842) and P. persephone Maynes, 1982 in the Northern Territory and north-eastern Queensland, and occurs incidentally in other hosts, probably as a result of host-switching ((Aepyprymnus rufescens (Gray, 1837), P. brachyotis (Gould, 1841), P. inornata Gould, 1842, M. dorsalis, M. parryi Bennett, 1835, M. giganteus Shaw, 1790 and Largochestes conspicillatus Gould, 1842). This morphological study, with additional host and geographical distributional data, provides support for the resurrection of the species.

Kangaroos at maximum capacity: health assessment of free-ranging eastern grey kangaroos on a coastal headland

“…The impact of parasitism can range from no effect, to reduced growth and reproduction, clinical disease, and mortality; depending on the species and parasite load ( Gulland 1995 ). Nematode species such as Rugopharynx rosemariae have been known to cause severe hypertrophic gastritis (inflammation of stomach mucosa) in kangaroos, while large burdens of Globocephaloides trifidospicularis may cause hemorrhage, anemia, and mortality in juvenile kangaroos ( Arundel et al 1990 ; Fazenda 2009 ).…”

Gastrointestinal helminth parasites of the grey kangaroos, Macropus fuliginosus and M. giganteus

“…A number of helminth species, for which reliable records of their occurrence in free-ranging hosts exist (Spratt and Beveridge 2016), were not encountered in the present study due to a number of reasons, primarily due to their rarity in these host species. Some species such as Globocephaloides macropodis and Globocephaloides affinis are common in sympatric host species, N. agilis and N. dorsalis, respectively, but have been found in M. giganteus on a single occasion in each instance (Beveridge et al 1984;Fazenda et al 2010). Records for the occurrence of the cloacinine nematode Zoniolaimus latebrosus in both M. fuliginosus and M. giganteus and the trichostrongylid nematode Filarinema beveridgei in M. fuliginosus are based on single findings (Spratt and Beveridge 2016) but with neither species being encountered in the present survey.…”