Gastrointestinal helminth parasites of the red kangaroo, Osphranter rufus (Desmarest) (Marsupialia: Macropodidae) and their regional distribution

Abstract

Gastrointestinal parasites of 106 red kangaroos, Osphranter rufus (Desmarest), are reported from Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory. Previous studies have been restricted to New South Wales and Queensland. The current study increases the geographical range of studies of the parasites of O. rufus and presents evidence for regional differences in the parasite fauna. Two species of cestodes and 27 species of nematodes were encountered, with four species Cloacina hestia Beveridge, 1998, C. ixion Beveridge, 1998, Papillostrongylus barbatus Chilton, Huby-Chilton, Gasser and Beveridge, 2002 and Popovastrongylus pearsoni (Johnston & M..