Serologic Survey for Toxoplasma Gondii and Neospora Caninum in the Common Brushtail Possum (Trichosurus Vulpecula) From Urban Sydney, Australia

Abstract

The common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) has well adapted to increasing urbanization, resulting in greater interaction with humans and their domestic pets. Wildlife species in urban areas face a higher risk of exposure to zoonotic pathogens and may be affected by parasites hosted by cats (Toxoplasma gondii) or dogs (Neospora caninum), yet it is unknown to what extent urban T. vulpecula are exposed to these parasites. Antibodies to T. gondii and N. caninum were assayed in sera of 142 adult possums from the city of Sydney, Australia. Using the modified agglutination test, antibodies to T. gondii were found in 9 (6.3%) of the 142 animals in titers of 1:25 (4), 1:50 (1), 1:100 (1), 1:800 (1), 1:3,200 (1), 1:6,400 (1), and 1:12,800 (1). Of some T. vulpecula multiple sera samples within a 2-yr frame could be collected, but seropositive animals in general were not recaptured after initial seroconversion. One possum had a high T. gondii titer on 2 consecutive bleedings, 14 mo apart, and seropositive possums appeared normal when captured. Sex seemed not to have an affect on antibody prevalence, but age and location may play a role. Antibodies to N. caninum were not detected in 1:25 dilution of sera in the N. caninum agglutination test, indicating that T. vulpecula may not have been exposed to this parasite. This is the first serological survey for T. gondii and N. caninum infections in urban T. vulpecula.

Ecological factors driving the higher hedgehog (Erinaceus europeaus) density in an urban area compared to the adjacent rural area

“…At least a dozen bird species and two mammal species (the rabbit Oryctolagus oryctolagus and the striped field mouse Apodemus gregarious) have colonised highly urbanised areas in Warsaw, Poland (Luniak, 2004). British towns and cities were found to have established urban Eurasian badgers (Meles meles) populations (Davidson, Huck, Delahay, & Roper, 2008;Delahay et al, 2009), the common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula), an arboreal marsupial, is quite common in many Australian cities (Eymann, Herbet, Cooper, & Dubey, 2006), and a colony of over 22,000 grey-headed flying fox (Pteropus poliocephalus), the largest bat in Australia, roosts in the Royal Botanic Garden in Sydney (Williams, Mcdonnell, Phelan, Keim, & van der Re, 2006). All these native, non-domestic wild animals are categorised as urban adapters based on their ability to adapt to urban habitats but also to use natural resources (Blair, 1996(Blair, , 2001.…”

Prevalence and Genetic Characterization of Cryptosporidium Isolates from Common Brushtail Possums ( Trichosurus vulpecula ) Adapted to Urban Settings

“…Possums have flourished in urban areas by adapting their diet to include food scraps and garden plants found in abundance in residential areas, public parks, botanic gardens, and metropolitan zoos. These aspects of possum ecology have promoted interaction with humans, domestic pets, and other introduced animals, facilitating the transmission of zoonotic pathogens, such as Toxoplasma gondii (15,23) and Leptospira spp. (16); however, there has been no systematic investigation of Cryptosporidium in urban-environmentadapted possums.…”

Leptospirosis Serology in the Common Brushtail Possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) from Urban Sydney, Australia

“…Brushtail possum collection sites, handling and sampling techniques, and statistical procedures are described in Eymann et al (2006). Briefly, brushtail possums were live-trapped from five suburban localities within the Sydney metropolitan area, New South Wales, Australia, namely Beecroft (33u459S, 151u049E), Chatswood West (33u479S, 151u099E), North Epping (33u459S, 151u059E), Pymble (33u459S, 151u079E), and Scotland Island (33u389S, 151u179E).…”