Molecular detection and characterisation of Toxoplasma gondii in eastern barred bandicoots (Perameles gunnii) in Victoria, Australia

Australian marsupials are particularly susceptible to <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i>, an introduced zoonotic protozoan parasite. Molecular diagnostic methods are a highly specific approach for the detection of parasitic infections such as <i>T. gondii</i>. Importantly, molecular methods are useful for the characterisation of <i>T. gondii</i> to understand the genetic diversity of the parasite. The eastern barred bandicoot (<i>Perameles gunnii</i>) is a small native marsupial species classified as Critically Endangered. Although the species has previously been described as highly susceptible to infection with <i>T. gondii</i>, there is currently no information on the genotypes occurring in this species. This study employed qPCR for the detection of <i>T. gondii</i> in opportunistically obtained tissue samples from eastern barred bandicoot carcasses (<i>n</i> = 113) from Victoria, followed by determination of genotype using a DNA sequence-based virtual restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) method. Overall, 19.5 % of the samples were positive for <i>T. gondii</i> using qPCR. The RFLP analysis revealed the dominance of <i>T. gondii</i> type II while a type II-like genotype was found in two isolates. This is the first study to provide information on prevalent genotypes of <i>T. gondii</i> in eastern barred bandicoots. Epidemiological studies of definitive and intermediate hosts, including further genotyping, are recommended to better understand <i>T. gondii</i> epidemiology for the successful recovery of eastern barred bandicoots in Australia.