New Zealand Journal of Zoology abstracts
The anomalous distribution of the possum parasite Parastrongyloides
trichosuri (Nematoda: Strongyloididae) in the southern South
Island, New Zealand
P. E. Cowan
Landcare Research
Private Bag 11 052
Palmerston North, New Zealand
email: cowanp@landcareresearch.co.nz
M. J. Ralston
D. D. Heath
AgResearch Limited
P.O. Box 40 063
Upper Hutt, New Zealand
Abstract Introduced Australian brushtail possums (Trichosurus
vulpecula) in the North Island, New Zealand, are infected commonly
with the possum-specific nematode, Parastrongyloides trichosuri.
In the South Island, however, the parasite was thought to be confined
to the Longwood Range, Southland, site of the first successful
introduction of possums to New Zealand. Current, more widespread
surveys revealed, however, that the parasite was distributed widely but
discontinuously across Southland and southern Otago, and restricted to
the southern third of the Longwood Range. Repeated sampling of possums
on two transects along the north-west and south-east of the Range
suggested that the parasite may be spreading northwards naturally. We
hypothesise, therefore, that P. trichosuri has infected possums
in the Longwood Range only relatively recently. A similar recent
introduction of the parasite to Otago and Southland could also explain
its current limited distribution. The most likely explanation for a
recent introduction is the release of “pet” possums taken to the area
from the North Island. We suggest P. trichosuri will continue
to spread in Southland and Otago, unless prevented by reduced possum
densities resulting from control for bovine Tb management.
Keywords brushtail possum; Trichosurus
vulpecula; endoparasites; distribution; spread; biological control
Z04016; Received 13 May 2004; accepted 23 August 2004; Online
publication date 2 March 2005
New Zealand Journal of Zoology, 2005, Vol. 32: 9–16
0301–4223/05/3201–0009
© The Royal Society of New Zealand 2005
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