The parasites of Antechinus stuartii Macleay from Powelltown, Victoria, with observations on seasonal and sex-related variations in numbers of Helminths

Abstract

A detailed examination of helminth and arthropod parasites was made in association with a study of male mortality in A. stuartii from Powelltown. The prevalence and population sizes of Woolleya spp., Capillaria rickardi and Peramelistrongylus skedatos rose sharply in the period June-August, male A. stuartii being significantly more heavily parasitized than females. It was considered unlikely that the parasites encountered are directly involved in the seasonal mortality of male A. stuartii.