Conservation, health and disease in the endangered marsupial, the Western Barred Bandicoot (Perameles bougainville). Western Barred Bandicoots are highly endangered marsupials, found in the wild only on Bernier and Dorre islands in Western Australia. Captive breeding and reintroduction efforts, considered essential for survival of this species, are currently hampered by a progressively debilitating, wart-like syndrome and reduced fertility. This project will use pathological, immunohistochemical ....Conservation, health and disease in the endangered marsupial, the Western Barred Bandicoot (Perameles bougainville). Western Barred Bandicoots are highly endangered marsupials, found in the wild only on Bernier and Dorre islands in Western Australia. Captive breeding and reintroduction efforts, considered essential for survival of this species, are currently hampered by a progressively debilitating, wart-like syndrome and reduced fertility. This project will use pathological, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural techniques in combination with novel molecular methods, and lymphocyte proliferation assays to determine the causes and conservation implications of these conditions. The hypothesis is that these conditions are a consequence of a viral or chlamydial infection in immunocompromised animals.Read moreRead less
Development of tests for detection and eradication of mouse parvovirus (MPV) from laboratory mouse colonies. This project between the animal virology group at Murdoch University and the major supplier of laboratory mice to the Australian research community will produce a sensitive serological test for the detection of mouse parvovirus in laboratory mouse colonies. Widespread infection by this virus has recently been identified in mouse colonies in Australia, and eradication of the virus and fut ....Development of tests for detection and eradication of mouse parvovirus (MPV) from laboratory mouse colonies. This project between the animal virology group at Murdoch University and the major supplier of laboratory mice to the Australian research community will produce a sensitive serological test for the detection of mouse parvovirus in laboratory mouse colonies. Widespread infection by this virus has recently been identified in mouse colonies in Australia, and eradication of the virus and future surveillance requires the development of a sensitive serological test amenable to automated high throughput analysis. Eradication of this virus is critical as the virus modulates the immune system of mice and affects the results obtained in mice used for medical research.Read moreRead less