Western Australian Marsupials Are Multiply Infected with Genetically Diverse Strains of <em>Toxoplasma gondii</em>

<div><p>Five different organs from 16 asymptomatic free-ranging marsupial macropods (<em>Macropus rufus</em>, <em>M. fuliginosus</em>, and <em>M. robustus</em>) from inland Western Australia were tested for infection with <em>Toxoplasma gondii</em> by multi-locus PCR-DNA sequencing. All macropods were infected with <em>T. gondii</em>, and 13 had parasite DNA in at least 2 organs. In total, 45 distinct <em>T. gondii</em> genotypes were detected. Fourteen of the 16 macropods were multiply infected with genetically distinct <em>T. gondii</em> genotypes that often partitioned between different organs. The presence of multiple <em>T. gondii</em> infections in macropods suggests that native mammals have the potential to promote regular cycles of sexual reproduction in the definitive felid host in this environment.</p>