STUDENT Projects

Project: Investigating the role of wild carnivores in transmission of Neospora caninum (2007-2010) by Jessica King

Neosporosis is a protozoal reproductive disease caused by Neospora caninum, manifest by both major outbreaks and sporadic cases of abortion outbreaks in bovine, as well as fatal neurological diseases in dogs. Research has shown that vertical transmission alone, in which the cow transfers the parasite to its foetus, is insufficient to sustain infection in a herd and overseas work has implicated domestic dogs and coyotes as definitive hosts of the disease. We have been investigating whether Australian wild canids are capable of shedding infective oocysts that contaminate pasture and water on farms and infect livestock. To determine if these animals provide the missing link in the transmission of the disease to cattle, we have conducted an experimental transmission trial that recently identified Australian dingoes as definitive hosts of N. caninum. However evidence to suggest that Australian foxes may be transmitters of the disease is lacking. In order to determine whether foxes pose a threat to livestock on NSW farms through transmission of N. caninum, surveys have been undertaken in red foxes by pathology and molecular identification of the disease agents. Aside from determining definitive hosts of the disease, we also aim to determine if N. caninum could potentially pose a significant threat to native wildlife in Australia. In doing this we will be establishing whether a sylvatic lifecycle exists within the disease. Co-supervised with Peter Windsor (USyd), John Ellis (UTS), David Jenkins (CSU) and Peter Fleming (Industry NSW).

Jessica King - Ph.D. candidate (Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney; funded by Invasive Animal CRC)
Jessica’s work on investigating the role of wild canids (dingoes, their hybrids and foxes) in transmission of Neospora caninum has received national interest after she presented a paper at the Global Biosecurity 2010 Conference: Safeguarding agriculture and the environment in Brisbane. Following a media release for the conference, a flurry of radio interviews and newspaper articles resulted, with the ABC radio broadcasting her work throughout Australia. Jess was responsible for 93.4% of all her funding body’s (Invasive Animals CRC) generated media relating directly to wild dogs and 15% of the total Invasive Animals CRC media coverage in February. Jessica has recently had her paper “Dingoes are definitive hosts of Neospora caninum” accepted for publication in the International Journal for Parasitology and a review accepted in The Veterinary Journal that outlines the implications of wild dog ecology on the sylvatic and domestic life cycles of Neospora caninum.

Jessica is the recipient of the Chief Executive's prize for achievement as an Invasive Animal CRC student in 2010.

Project: Myxozoa and frog decline in Australia (2009-2012) by Ashlie Hartigan

My PhD focuses on Myxozoan parasites in Australian frogs. Primary research aims are to identify and describe the disease in native frogs associated with the parasite, and determine its life cycle in order to disrupt it in captive breeding programs. The main topics in my work so far have been looking at tadpole pathology associated with parasite presence over 12 months, identifying the parasite with PCR, histology and electron microscopy. I've been awarded a travel grant by ARC/NHMRC Network for Parasitology to travel to the Czech Republic for electron microscopy training at the National Academy of Sciences Institute of Parasitology in April 2009. Future projects include a diagnostic test for myxozoan species presence, evaluation of the prevalence in wild populations of native species, provide new research insights and protocols for assessing disease in frogs and tadpoles identified with myxozoa. This project deals with aspects of wildlife disease, amphibian decline, captive breeding projects and the interaction between parasites, their hosts and the environment. Applications of this work include improving frog captive breeding programs, understanding species of myxozoa infecting amphibians and aspects of wildlife disease.

Ashlie Hartigan - Ph.D. candidate (Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney)
Ashlie has been awarded a prestigious JD Smyth Postgraduate Travel Award from the Australian Society for Parasitology in 2010. Ashlie has published a paper in a journal Parasites and Vectors titled “Museum material reveals a frog parasite emergence after the invasion of the cane toad in Australia”. This article is now flagged as “Highly Accessed” and appearing within the top 10 most accessed articles of the journal, it gained 643 hits within first 4 weeks after publication.

Ashlie is co-supervised by A/Prof David Phalen and works closely with Karrie Rose (Taronga Zoo).

Project: Biology of Chromera velia (2010-2013) by Kate Weatherby

Chromera velia is a photosynthetic alveolate that was discovered associated with Australian corals. Chromera was found to be a free-living, unicellular alga that is closely related to algal dinoflagelletes, which are a diverse group of aquatic organisms. However, phylogenetic analysis has placed Chromera closest to the apicomplexans, a large group of non-photosynthetic, intra-cellular parasitic organisms. This suggests that Chromera is the missing link between algae and apicomplexans, providing insight into what the ancestors of apicomplexans were like millions of years ago and how parasitism arose in this lineage. It was discovered that Chromera possesses a photosynthetic plastid phylogenetically related to an apicoplast, or relict chloroplast. Apicoplasts are present in most apicomplexans including Plasmodium which causes malaria. Genetic or pharmacological disruption of the apicoplast leads to parasite death, implying that it would be a suitable drug target. Chromera presents a unique opportunity to study an apicoplast-related plastid without the inherent health risks. The life cycle of Chromera velia involves a light influenced diel cycle. During this period the cell becomes flagellated and motile and then returns to its sedentary state. Experiments are being performed with different conditions to further understand this cycle and the triggers for transformation. The study also involves isolating new chromerids and investigating population diversity.

Kate Weatherby - Ph.D. candidate (School of Molecular Biosciences / Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney)
Kate has published her ultrastructural paper in a prestigious journal Protist, the article is titled “Surface and flagella morphology of the motile form of Chromera velia revealed by field-emission scanning electron microscopy”. This publication was based on her Honours project she conducted in our lab in 2009.

Project: Tritrichomonas foetus epidemiology: cat to cat transmission (2010) by Matthew Van der Saag

Historically the protozoan parasite is associated with venereal disease and abortion in cattle. Recently, the increased occurrence of feline enteric trichomonosis (caused by Tritrichomonas foetus) in clinical situations has sparked interest into potential vectors for this parasite. This research will investigate as to whether or not slugs are a potential vector for this parasite, using two different species of slugs, namely the introduced Leopard slug (Limax maximus) and the native Red triangle slug Triboniophorus graeffei. I hope that this project will yield some positive results, as well as a foundation in parasitology and perhaps a possible link between the occurrence of trichomonosis in cattle and in cats.

Matthew Van der Saag - Honours students (Animal and Veterinary Bioscience, Faculty of veterinary Science, University of Sydney)

Project: Myxozoa in frog tissues using FISH (2010) by Patricia O'Keeffe

The project will focus around Myxozoa infection that is hampering conservation efforts for the Green and Golden Bell Frog. Fluorescence In situ Hybridization (FISH) will be utilised in an attempt to detect the presence of the parasite DNA and visualize its distribution in samples of affected tadpoles. This work will help to determine whether FISH can be used successfully to identify the distribution of the parasite throughout tissue samples and therefore contribute to the understanding of this parasite with further application of the technique.

Patricia O'Keeffe - Honours students (Animal and Veterinary Bioscience, Faculty of veterinary Science, University of Sydney)

Project: The Impact of Introduced and Enzootic Blood Parasites on Native Australian Birds (2010) by Jesslyn Ali Khan

I am using microscopy and PCR to detect blood parasites such as those from the genera Plasmodium, Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon in native Australian birds. I will be investigating the prevalence of blood parasites in a sample of birds from NSW and will be examining if using different tissue samples in PCR tests affects the result of the test. I will also be identifying the genetic lineage of any blood parasites found in this study and making a comparison to other known genetic lineages found in birds from Australia and overseas.

Jesslyn Ali Khan - Master student (Wildlife Health and Population Management, University of Sydney)

Project: Coccidia in the captive population of the Regent Honeyater (2010) by Victoria Morin-Adeline

Victoria Morin-Adeline - volunteer (Animal and Veterinary Bioscience, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney)

Project: Investigating coccidiosis in echidnas (2010) by John Debenham

John Debenham - volunteer (BVSc student 4th year, Faculty of veterinary Science)