High prevalence of antibodies against feline calicivirus in Australian feral and stray cat (Felis catus) populations.

Introduction: Feline calicivirus (FCV) commonly causes upper respiratory tract, oral and ocular infections in species of the family Felidae, with high prevalence amongst domestic cat (Felis catus) populations worldwide. Detection of FCV-specific antibodies in serum provides evidence of previous infection with FCV and an indication of whether a cat may be protected against clinical FCV disease. This study describes the most extensive sampling for anti-FCV antibodies in feral and stray cat populations in Australia, and examines variation in prevalence associated with cat age, sex and location.

Seroprevalence and risk factors for Toxoplasma gondii exposure in Australian feral and stray cats using an in-house modified agglutination test.

Toxoplasma gondii is a globally distributed zoonotic protist, capable of infecting all warm-blooded animals. In Australia, cats (Felis catus) are the only definitive host capable of spreading T. gondii infection via oocysts.

ST24: Clonal Strains of One Health Importance Dominate in Australian Horse, Bird and Human Infections.

is traditionally regarded as a globally distributed avian pathogen that can cause zoonotic spill-over. Molecular research has identified an extended global host range and significant genetic diversity. However, Australia has reported a reduced host range (avian, horse, and human) with a dominance of clonal strains, denoted ST24.

Full Mitochondrial Genome and Nuclear Sequences Refine the Taxonomic Placement of n. comb. from the Prostate of (Yellow-Footed Antechinus).

An unusual coccidian parasite was described previously from the prostate of a male (family: Dasyuridae; common name: yellow-footed antechinus). Morphometrics and a partial nuclear 18S small subunit rDNA () sequence were used to assign this parasite to the genus ; it was named . We generated full nuclear and mitochondrial genome sequences from this parasite and used the newly completed and mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I () sequences to perform a more in-depth phylogenetic analysis.

SURVEILLANCE FOR SPP. WITH MULTILOCUS SEQUENCE TYPING ANALYSIS IN WILD AND CAPTIVE BIRDS IN VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA.

typically infects birds and can cause outbreaks of avian chlamydiosis, but it also has the potential to cause zoonotic disease (psittacosis) in humans. To better understand the epidemiology of in Victoria, Australia, we conducted opportunistic sampling of more than 400 wild and captive birds presented to the Australian Wildlife Health Centre at Zoos Victoria's Healesville Sanctuary for veterinary care between December 2014 and December 2015. Samples were screened for the presence of chlamydial DNA using quantitative PCR, and positive samples were subjected to multilocus sequence typing analysis.