New Zealand Journal of Zoology abstracts
Effects of season, age, and sex on infection with endoparasites of brushtail possums, Trichosurus vulpecula, from a forest/farmland site, lower North Island, New Zealand
P. E. Cowan*
Landcare Research
Private Bag 11 052
Palmerston North, New Zealand
email: cowanp@landcareresearch.co.nz
D. D. Heath
M. Stankiewicz†
AgResearch
Wallaceville Animal Research Centre
P.O. Box 40 063
Upper Hutt, New Zealand
†Present address: Animal and Food Sciences Division, Lincoln University, P.O. Box 84, Lincoln, Canterbury, New Zealand.
*Author for correspondence.
Abstract To assess fully the potential of parasites for the biological control of Australian brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) in New Zealand, factors affecting the prevalence and intensity of such infections need to be determined. In this study we investigated the effects of season, sex, and age on endoparasite infection in possums from a single forest/farmland site in the lower North Island, New Zealand. Seasonal changes in prevalence and intensity of infection were found for most of the parasites, but the patterns of change varied between species. Parasite prevalences were generally similar in male and female possums, except for the Trichostrongylus spp., which were more prevalent in males. The prevalences of Parastrongyloides trichosuri, Paraustrostrongylus trichosuri and Trichostrongylus retortaeformis were generally lower in young animals (0–1 year) and in animals aged 4 years and older. A body condition index and prevalence of infection showed a significant negative relationship for coccidia, and significant positive relationships for Bertiella trichosuri and Paraustrostrongylus trichosuri. Parastrongyloides trichosuri and Paraustrostrongylus trichosuri, the species of greatest interest for biological control, infected possums rapidly once they became independent from their mothers, and maintained a high and relatively constant prevalence through the year in adults.
Keywords brushtail possum; Trichosurus vulpecula; endoparasites; seasonality; sex; age; condition; biological control
Z01022 Received 18 May 2001; accepted 12 January 2002
New Zealand Journal of Zoology, 2002, Vol. 29: 161–169
0301–4223/02/2902–0161 $7.00/0 © The Royal Society of New Zealand 2002
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