title: First report of Trypanosoma vegrandis in koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus).
abstract: The present study describes the first report of Trypanosoma vegrandis in koalas using morphology and sequence analysis of the 18S rRNA gene. The prevalence of T. vegrandis in koalas was 13.6% (6/44). It is likely that the small size of T. vegrandis (<10μm in length), coupled with the difficulties in amplifying DNA of this parasite in mixed infections using trypanosome generic primers, are the reason why this organism has not been identified in koalas until now. This study highlights the importance of further research comprising a larger sample size to determine the prevalence of T. vegrandis in koalas as well as its potential impacts upon this marsupial species' health.
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Perth, WA 6150, Australia; CAPES Foundation, Ministry of Education of Brazil, Brasília, DF 70040-020, Brazil. Electronic address: A.DuarteBarbosa@murdoch.edu.au.
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barbosa
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Perth, WA 6150, Australia.
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Austen
authors.affiliation: The Australia Zoo Hospital, Beerwah, Qld 4519, Australia; School of Veterinary Science, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Qld 4072, Australia.
authors.forename: Amber
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gillett
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Perth, WA 6150, Australia.
authors.forename: Kristin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Warren
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Perth, WA 6150, Australia.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Paparini
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Perth, WA 6150, Australia.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Irwin
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Perth, WA 6150, Australia.
authors.forename: Una
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Ryan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D060085:Coinfection; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D048368:Phascolarctidae / Q000469:parasitology*; D010802:Phylogeny; D015995:Prevalence; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA / Q000662:veterinary; D014345:Trypanosoma / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D014352:Trypanosomiasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D004275:DNA, Ribosomal
keywords: 18S rRNA; Koalas; Microscopy; Trypanosoma vegrandis