title: Some effects of tick infestations on juvenile northern brown bandicoot (Isoodon macrourus).
abstract: The effect of tick infestations on body weight and various blood parameters was monitored in juvenile northern brown bandicoots (Isoodon macrourus) after release into tick-infested or tick-free enclosures. Three species of ticks were observed in the enclosures, Haemaphysalis humerosa, Ixodes tasmani and Ixodes holocyclus. Bandicoots released into tick-infested enclosures showed a reduced growth rate (1.8 versus 2.5 g/day increase in body weight), a reduced haematocrit value (27.4 versus 40.0%) and an increased number of white blood cells when compared with bandicoots released into tick-free enclosures. These results suggest that tick infestations may influence the health of juvenile I. macrourus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: R T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Gemmell
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cepon
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: N P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Stewart
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D005260:Female; D006400:Hematocrit / Q000662:veterinary; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D008394:Marsupialia / Q000469:parasitology*; D013984:Tick Infestations / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000662:veterinary*; D013987:Ticks / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development