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Applied and Environmental Microbiology, October 2005, p. 6159-6164, Vol. 71, No. 10
0099-2240/05/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AEM.71.10.6159-6164.2005
Copyright © 2005, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Patterns of Cryptosporidium Oocyst Shedding by Eastern Grey Kangaroos Inhabiting an Australian Watershed

Michelle L. Power,1* Nicholas C. Sangster,2 Martin B. Slade,1 and Duncan A. Veal1

Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales 2109,1 Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia2

Received 9 July 2004/ Accepted 23 May 2005

The occurrence of Cryptosporidium oocysts in feces from a population of wild eastern grey kangaroos inhabiting a protected watershed in Sydney, Australia, was investigated. Over a 2-year period, Cryptosporidium oocysts were detected in 239 of the 3,557 (6.7%) eastern grey kangaroo fecal samples tested by using a combined immunomagnetic separation and flow cytometric technique. The prevalence of Cryptosporidium in this host population was estimated to range from 0.32% to 28.5%, with peaks occurring during the autumn months. Oocyst shedding intensity ranged from below 20 oocysts/g feces to 2.0 x 106 oocysts/g feces, and shedding did not appear to be associated with diarrhea. Although morphologically similar to the human-infective Cryptosporidium hominis and the Cryptosporidium parvum "bovine" genotype oocysts, the oocysts isolated from kangaroo feces were identified as the Cryptosporidium "marsupial" genotype I or "marsupial" genotype II. Kangaroos are the predominant large mammal inhabiting Australian watersheds and are potentially a significant source of Cryptosporidium contamination of drinking water reservoirs. However, this host population was predominantly shedding the marsupial-derived genotypes, which to date have been identified only in marsupial host species.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales 2109, Australia. Phone: 612 9351 7119. Fax: 612 9315 7348. E-mail: mpower{at}vetsci.usyd.edu.au.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, October 2005, p. 6159-6164, Vol. 71, No. 10
0099-2240/05/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AEM.71.10.6159-6164.2005
Copyright © 2005, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Hill, N. J., Deane, E. M., Power, M. L. (2008). Prevalence and Genetic Characterization of Cryptosporidium Isolates from Common Brushtail Possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) Adapted to Urban Settings. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 74: 5549-5555 [Abstract] [Full Text]  


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