Why do some bandicoots have more worms than others?
A review and comparison of the nematode assemblages of the Australian golden bandicoot, Isoodon auratus, the quenda, I. fusciventer and southern brown bandicoot, I. obesulus (Peramelidae), from material held in the south Australian museum
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
I. macrourus has 27 worm species but shares only one with the others, despite overlapping ranges historically.
People assume animals living near each other share parasites—but here, geography didn’t equal parasite sharing. Host species identity mattered more than location.
Practical Takeaways
Use parasite profiles as non-invasive biomarkers to track wildlife population health and genetic isolation.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
I. macrourus has 27 worm species but shares only one with the others, despite overlapping ranges historically.
People assume animals living near each other share parasites—but here, geography didn’t equal parasite sharing. Host species identity mattered more than location.
Practical Takeaways
Use parasite profiles as non-invasive biomarkers to track wildlife population health and genetic isolation.
Publication
Journal
International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife
Year
2024
Authors
L. Smales, Jo A. L. Wood, L. Chisholm
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Claims (5)
Two types of roundworms—Linstowinema and Labiobulura—are found in almost every bandicoot studied, making them the most common worms in this animal group, no matter which species it is.
Two similar-looking Australian bandicoots have very different worms in their guts—one has mostly two types of worms that almost all individuals carry, while the other has many more types of worms, with only two types in common.
The bandicoot with the biggest territory has the most types of worms, the one with the smallest territory has the fewest, suggesting that how far a host animal travels might affect how many different worms it picks up.
The northern brown bandicoot has the most types of worms of all the bandicoots studied, and only one worm type is shared with the other two species, meaning they mostly have their own unique worms even if they live near each other.
Even though only three golden bandicoots were checked, they had the same two types of worms found in other bandicoots, hinting that these worms are a common feature of all bandicoots, no matter where they live.