The Haematozoa of Australian Reptiles.

Abstract

Trypanosomes are known from tortoises, a gecko, and skinks, Trypanosoma phylluri from Phyllurus platurus, and T. egerniae from Egernia striolata and E. cunninghami being new. There is an old record of a trypanosome in a snake, but the organism has not been rediscovered. Haemogregarines are common in all groups. Names had already been given to 2 from tortoises (one of which is regarded as a synonym), 4 from lizards, and 10 from snakes in Australia. Three species described from snakes in Asia have been added, and 15 new species are described from the following type hosts : Haemogregarina heteronotae from Heteronota binoei; Hg. palmeri from Physignathus lesueurii; Hg. taeniolati from Sphenomorphus taeniolatus; Hg. cunninghami, Hg, egerniae, and Hg. obscura from Egernia cunninghami; Hg. johnstoni from Varanus varius varius; Hg. breinli and Hg, gilruthi from Varanus tristis orientalis; Hg. stegonoti from Stegonotus plumbeus; Hg. boigae from Boiga fusca; Hg. australis and Hg. eidsvoldensis fom Pseudechis australis; Hg. denisoniae from Denisonia pallidiceps; Hg. aspidomorphi from Aspidomorphus harriettae. Two species of Plasmodium are known from lizards, P. egerniae from Egernia major major being new. The genus Haemocystidium is revived, one species being recognized in freshwater tortoises and one in geckos. Pirhemocyton has been found in two species of geckos and a carpet snake.

Hemoprotozoa of Freshwater Turtles in Queensland

“…has been previously described from freshwater turtles in Australia, namely T. chelodinae from C. longicollis, Emydura kreftii, E. macquarii, E. latisternum and E. dentata (cf. Mackerras, 1961). Many others have been described from chelonian hosts elsewhere in the world (Woo, 1969;Molyneux, 1977).…”

“…Infections seemed to be heavier during the winter which is when turtles hibernate, and they were heavier in older turtles suggesting they accumulate with age. Mackerras (1961) previously observed that turtles tend to develop an ongoing tolerance to these parasites rather than developing immune responses to them.…”

“…One type was identified as the species T. chelodinae as described previously (Johnston and Cleland, 1910;Mackerras, 1961) except that the trypomastigotes apparently were longer. However, previous measurements did not include the length of the free flagellum as recommended by Hoare (1972).…”

“…Although many species of hemoprotozoa have been described worldwide, only three have been formally described from Australian chelonians; Haemogregarina clelandi, Trypanosoma chelodinae, and Haemoproteus chelodinae (cf. Mackerras, 1961). Little additional research has been conducted on the occurrence, identity, and host ranges of chelonian parasites in Australia.…”

Factors Affecting Hematology and Plasma Biochemistry in the Southwest Carpet Python (Morelia Spilota Imbricata)

“…1e). Following descriptions provided by Mackerras (1961) of the seven Hemogregarina species found in Australian Boidae (O'Donoghue and Adlard, 2000), the species in this study appears to be Hemogregarina moreliea. Samples were categorized according to the presence or absence of the hemoparasites in smears.…”