The parasite assemblages of Zyzomys argurus (Thomas, 1889) (Muridae : Murinae) from northern Australia

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Contents Vol 57(6)

doi:10.1071/ZO09099

The parasite assemblages of Zyzomys argurus (Thomas, 1889) (Muridae : Murinae) from northern Australia

H. J. Weaver ^A ^B ^D, L. R. Smales ^A ^C

^A College of Sciences, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, Qld 4702, Australia.
^B National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia.
^C Parasitology Section, South Australian Museum, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia.
^D Corresponding author. Email: weaver.haylee@gmail.com





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Australian Journal of Zoology 57(6) 429–432 http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ZO09099
Submitted: 29 July 2009 Accepted: 24 December 2009 Published online: 8 February 2010

Abstract

In this study, we present an analysis of the ecto- and endoparasite fauna of Zyzomys argurus from Queensland and the Northern Territory. The finding of the louse Hoplopleura zyzomydis, and the nematodes Syphacia abertoni and S. boodjamullaensis, together with the new host records for Nippostrongylus sp., Aspiculuris tetraptera and Raillietina sp., have increased the number of parasites known from Z. argurus from 18 to 24, and provide the first records of parasites from Z. argurus from central and eastern Australia. Analysis of the assemblage of parasites found from Z. argurus appears to indicate that, while intraspecific transmission of parasites is relatively common, host-switching from other species is not. The ecology of Z. argurus appears to be the main determinant of its depauperate parasite fauna.