Toxoplasmosis: its impacts on native species

Toxoplasmosis is a protozoan parasite carried by cats. Australian marsupials are particularly vulnerable to it because their ancestors evolved in the absence of cats and the disease.

Symptoms of the disease: Problems with the respiratory and nervous systems or sudden death. Species affected: • Bandicoots • Dunnarts • Pygmy possums • Bilbies • Possums • Echidnas • Wombats • Numbats • Pademelons • Wallabies • Kangaroos • Kowaris • Koalas • Antechinus • Phascogales • Water rats • Swamp rats

Means of infection Through the ingestion of spores spread through cat faeces or by eating uncooked sheep meat. Stress may exacerbate a latent infection. Ramifications Outbreaks of toxoplasmosis assume immense importance for rare and endangered marsupials in captive breeding programs and in management of small wild populations in remnant habitat. For further information contact: Pip Masters KINRB PO Box 121 Kingscote, 5223 Ph: 85532833 Email: Pip.Masters@kinrm.com.au Source information: Dr David Spratt, Sustainable Ecosystems, CSIRO, Canberra

Link: Your Cat Could Make You Crazy
Link: Risk factors for toxoplasmosis in UK pregnant women
Link: A Feral Peril - problems caused by the decline in Tasmania's devil population