Wilson, Karen (2013) Bats, tick paralysis and disease. In: Proceedings of the Australian Veterinary Association Annual Conference. pp. 1-6. From: Australian Veterinary Association Annual Conference, 26-31 May 2013, Cairns, QLD, Australia.

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Abstract

Infestation by the paralysis tick (Ixodes holocyclus) carried by bandicoots (Parameles nasuta and Isoodon macrourus torosus) leads to paralysis, acute congestive left-sided heart failure and death of a threatened species Pteropus conspicillatus, the spectacled flying fox in the Atherton Tablelands from September to December. Flying foxes (four species, including P. conspicillatus) and ticks occur all along the east coast of Australia. Even P. conspicillatus on the coastal lowlands are tick-free. Why does this species of bat only on the Atherton Tableland and no other bat species in Australia become affected in such large numbers by tick paralysis? The hypothesis is that Solanum mauritianum (wild tobacco) exposes spectacled flying foxes on the Atherton Tablelands to ticks. These introduced weeds grow to four metres in disturbed habitat and with fruit all year round have been included in the diet of bats, bringing bats and ticks together (Eggert 1994; Parsons et al. 2006).

Item ID:	27415
Item Type:	Conference Item (Presentation)
ISBN:	978-0-9807967-3-5
Related URLs:	Organisation
Date Deposited:	21 May 2014 04:22
FoR Codes:	07 AGRICULTURAL AND VETERINARY SCIENCES > 0799 Other Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences > 079999 Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences not elsewhere classified @ 100%
SEO Codes:	96 ENVIRONMENT > 9699 Other Environment > 969999 Environment not elsewhere classified @ 100%
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