Is Toxoplasma gondii a threat to the conservation of free-ranging Australian marsupial populations?

ABSTRACT: It has often been asserted that Australian marsupial species are particularly susceptible to Toxoplasma gondii infection and to clinical toxoplasmosis following infection. This implicates T. gondii as a potential threat to marsupial population viability, and contrasts to what is known of T. gondii in populations of several other host species. We reviewed the literature, and found a lack of scientifically robust evidence addressing the occurrence of T. gondii infection in free-ranging populations of Australian marsupial species, and the impacts of the infection on population health. Key limitations included a lack of studies in free-ranging marsupial populations, study findings susceptible to substantial chance influences, and selection, misclassification and confounding biases. The lack of

SUBMITTER: Hillman AE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4840267 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature