Verification of the Spotted-Tail Quoll, Dasyurus maculatus, as a Definitive Host for the Pentastomid Linguatula sp. in Australia

Abstract

Purpose Specimens of a pentastomid, identified as a nymphal Linguatula serrata, have previously been reported from the nasal cavity of the endangered Australian marsupial, the spotted-tail quoll, Dasyurus maculatus. These specimens were made available for morphological and molecular characterisation to confirm their species identity. Methods Specimens were examined by light microscopy. Molecular sequencing attempts were unsuccessful. Results Examination showed that the specimens were adult pentastomes of the genus Linguatula. Morphological differences are reported between these specimens and published measurements of specimens from other hosts collected from the same region. Conclusions This is the first confirmed report of an adult Linguatula pentastome in a native Australian animal. Due to the small number of specimens and the lack of successful molecular characterisation, the pentastomes have been referred to Linguatula sp. until future work can confirm the species identity. The need for combined molecular and morphological analysis of pentastome specimens is reiterated.

Occurrence and characterisation of Eustrongylides species in Australian native birds and fish

“…Recently we showed that a number of introduced parasites entered the country and now are established in Australia, infecting native and protected species. For example, the European tongue worm, Linguatula serrata , was found in red-necked wallabies and spotted-tail quolls ( Barton et al, 2020 ; Barton et al, 2021 ), and anchor worm, Lernaea cyprinacea , was found in wild Murray cod ( Zhu et al, 2021 ).…”