Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 21, 2026

Generating Transgenics and Knockouts in Strongyloides Species by Microinjection
Published on: October 7, 2021
Molecular evidence for a cryptic species within the parasitic nematode Macroponema comani (Strongyloidea:
Nicole Tan1, Neil B Chilton, Florence Huby-Chilton
1Department of Veterinary Science, The University of Melbourne, 250 Princes Highway, Werribee, Victoria 3030, Australia.
Abstract:
Nematodes resembling Macroponema comani, a common parasite of eastern grey kangaroos, Macropus giganteus, in eastern Australia were collected from an unexpected host species, the northern wallaroo, Macropus robustus woodwardi, in the Northern Territory, representing a highly disjunct occurrence. Although these specimens showed no morphological differences when compared with Ma. comani from M. giganteus, sequencing of the first and second internal transcribed spacers ITS-1 and ITS-2 of the nuclear ribosomal DNA revealed seven base pair differences in each spacer region between the two taxa. These differences included a number of autapomorphies. Sequences from both taxa differed significantly from those of Ma. beveridgei, a common parasite of the common wallaroo, Macropus robustus robustus and the euro, M. robustus erubescens. Based on these findings, the specimens in M. r. woodwardi are considered to represent a crypic species.
Related Concept Videos
Phylogenetic Species Concept in Microbiology
Fungal Phylum Microsporidia
Diversity of Protists I
Anthelminthic Agents
Modern Molecular Taxonomy
Microbial Interactions: Parasitism

