Theileria gilberti n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Theileriidae) in the Gilbert's Potoroo (Potorous gilbertii) |
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| Authors: | JEREMY Y LEE UNA M RYAN RYAN JEFFERIES LINDA M MCINNES DAVID FORSHAW J ANTHONY FRIEND PETER J IRWIN |
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| Institution: | Division of Health Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia 6150, Australia, and;School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1UG, United Kingdom, and;Department of Agriculture and Food, Albany, Western Australia 6330, Australia, and;Department of Environment and Conservation, Albany, Western Australia 6330, Australia |
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| Abstract: | ABSTRACT. The morphology and genetic characterisation of a new species of piroplasm identified in the blood of the Gilbert's potoroo ( Potorous gilbertii ) from the Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve near Albany, Western Australia, is described from blood and tissue samples from 16 Gilbert's potoroos. Microscopy of blood showed these parasites are highly pleomorphic with a mean length of 1.8 μm and mean width of 0.85 μm. Phylogenetic analysis of 18S rRNA sequence data identified the piroplasm as a new species of Theileria that is closely related to other Australian marsupial piroplasm species. Based on biological and molecular data, it is proposed that the parasite from Gilbert's potoroo be given the name Theileria gilberti n. sp. |
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| Keywords: | Australia haemoparasite marsupial isolate piroplasm potoroo Theileria gilberti |
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