Anthropozoonotic significance, risk factors and spatial distribution of spp. infections in quenda () in the greater Perth region, Western Australia.

spp. infections in wildlife populations have been linked to anthropogenic sources of infection and public health risk in a diversity of wildlife species and ecological locations worldwide. Quenda () remain in many urbanised areas of Perth, Western Australia, and can be gregarious in their interactions with humans and domestic animals. In a previous study, a high prevalence of spp. infection was identified amongst quenda trapped in urbanised environments and bushland in Perth, Western Australia. This study aimed to expand on that finding, by: identifying and estimating the prevalence of particular species of infecting quenda, and thus clarifying their anthropozoonotic/public health significance; identifying risk factors for spp. infection; and investigating putative associations between infection and indicators of ill health. spp. infections in Perth quenda are overwhelmingly of the host-adapted, non-zoonotic (apparent prevalence 22.2%; 95% CI 17.7-27.4%), indicating that quenda are not a substantial veterinary public health risk regarding this parasite genus. However, one case each of and genotype D were identified in quenda trapped in urbanised environments (apparent prevalences 0.4%; 95% CI 0.1-1.9%). In quenda, spp. infection is associated with infection and flea infection intensity, which may reflect host population density, or regarding spp., similar transmission pathways or synergistic interactions between these taxa within the host. spp. infection is not associated with the measured indicators of ill health in Perth quenda, but this finding is representative of only, given the apparent rarity of other sp. infections in this study.