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Trypanosoma irwini n. sp (Sarcomastigophora: Trypanosomatidae) from the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 July 2009

L. M. McINNES ,
A. GILLETT ,
U. M. RYAN ,
J. AUSTEN ,
R. S. F. CAMPBELL ,
J. HANGER  and
S. A. REID
L. M. McINNES*
Affiliation:
Division of Health Sciences, School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Perth6150, Western Australia
A. GILLETT
Affiliation:
The Australian Wildlife Hospital, Beerwah, Queensland, Australia
U. M. RYAN
Affiliation:
Division of Health Sciences, School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Perth6150, Western Australia
J. AUSTEN
Affiliation:
Division of Health Sciences, School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Perth6150, Western Australia
R. S. F. CAMPBELL
Affiliation:
School of Veterinary Science, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland4811, Australia
J. HANGER
Affiliation:
The Australian Wildlife Hospital, Beerwah, Queensland, Australia
S. A. REID
Affiliation:
Division of Health Sciences, School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Perth6150, Western Australia
*
*Corresponding author: Division of Health Sciences, School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Perth6150, Western Australia. Tel: +61 893 602495. Fax: +61 893 104144. E-mail: [email protected]
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Summary

The morphology and genetic characterization of a new species of trypanosome infecting koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) are described. Morphological analysis of bloodstream forms and phylogenetic analysis at the 18S rDNA and gGAPDH loci demonstrated this trypanosome species to be genetically distinct and most similar to Trypanosoma bennetti, an avian trypanosome with a genetic distance of 0·9% at the 18S rDNA and 10·7% at the gGAPDH locus. The trypanosome was detected by 18S rDNA PCR in the blood samples of 26 out of 68 (38·2%) koalas studied. The aetiological role of trypanosomes in koala disease is currently poorly defined, although infection with these parasites has been associated with severe clinical signs in a number of koalas. Based on biological and genetic characterization data, this trypanosome species infecting koalas is proposed to be a new species Trypanosome irwini n. sp.

Keywords

Trypanosoma spp.koala18S rDNAgGAPDHphylogeny
Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 136 , Issue 8 , July 2009 , pp. 875 - 885
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2009

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