Haemoprotozoan parasites are unicellular eukaryotic organisms found in the blood of vertebrate hosts.
Infections range from asymptomatic to fatal, depending on the parasite species’ virulence and the immunological status of the host. The advent of molecular techniques has provided an opportunity to focus research on the biodiversity of haemoprotozoan parasites infecting Australian native mammals.
Despite this, relatively little is known about the epidemiology, life cycles, transmission dynamics and clinical significance of Australian indigenous haemoprotozoa.Haemoprotozoa of the Order Trypanosomatida and Piroplasamida are not only widespread but also appear to have the greatest potential to adversely affect the health of Australian native fauna and may be associated with population declines of some marsupial and murid species. Subclinical infections may represent an additional threat to native mammals that may be under stress from other threatening processes such as habitat degradation and human encroachment.
This chapter provides a compilation of the current knowledge of haemoprotozoan parasites documented in Australian mammals, particularly trypanosomes and piroplasms of the genera Babesia and Theileria.
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