Animal & Veterinary Sciences
Tasmanian Platypus Alert
Tasmanian Platypus Recording Sheet
Are the Platypuses in Your Area Healthy?
(Drawing by Bozena Jantulik)
Tasmanian platypuses are under threat from a deadly infection (mucormycosis) caused by the fungus Mucor amphibiorum. Thisis the only disease agent known to cause significant illness and death in the platypus. Despite the presence of M. amphibiorum in mainland Australia in the soil, frog and cane toad, this disease has not been reported in platypuses outside Tasmania as yet.
Affected platypuses develop single or multiple skin ulcers on haired and unhaired areas of the body. Skin ulcers, nodules and/or abscesses are seen on the hind limbs (38%), fore limbs (6%), tail (19%), trunk (6%) and head (6%), toe webbing (13%) and bill (6%). The fungus invades deeply into the underlying tissues and internal organs such as the lungs, and leakage of blood and body fluids also occurs. The fungus can be seen in smears made from skin ulcers and isolated from swabs from infected ulcers. Animals with extensive infections may have anaemia, impaired thermoregulation and mobility.
Appearance of platypuses in Tasmania with skin ulcers.
he fungus most likely enters via superficial skin wounds such as those caused by spurring injuries between male platypuses, bites from water rats, eels or crustaceans, or wounds caused by ticks, mites or nematode larvae. The respiratory route has also been proposed.
The distribution of the disease is expanding, and has been observed in at least eleven catchments since the first cases were seen in the Elizabeth River at Campbell Town in the autumn of 1982.
Distribution of platypuses in Tasmania with skin ulcers.
(a). May 1995 distribution. (b). December 2005 distribution. Green areas indicate catchments with numerou platypuses with confirmed mucormycosis. Red dots indicate locations of reported cases of suspected mucormycosis.
This project is sponsored by the Central North Field Naturalists Inc., 68 Dynans Bridge Road, Weegena, Tasmania, 7304.
Tasmanian Platypus Alert is seeking information from the public about healthy and diseased platypuses. Information gathered from the public awareness alert will help us to understand the nature and extent of this disease. It will also allow researchers to continue to monitor its spread and help future research efforts.
For more detailed information please download and read the Platypus Mucormycosis Fact Sheet and Tasmanian Platypus Alert Pamphlet. To report sightings of healthy and/or diseased platypuses, please download, complete and email the Tasmanian Platypus Alert Reporting Sheet to the address shown.
For more information and/or survey sheets please contact:
Southern Tasmania
David Obendorf
Email: davidobendorf@tassie.net.au
Northern Tasmania
Sarah Lloyd
Email: sarahlloyd@iprimus.com.au
Charles Sturt University
Joanne Connolly
Email: jconnolly@csu.edu.au