Verification of the Spotted-Tail Quoll, Dasyurus maculatus, as a Definitive Host for the Pentastomid Linguatula sp. in Australia

Specimens of a pentastomid, identified as a nymphal Linguatula serrata, have previously been reported from the nasal cavity of the endangered Australian marsupial, the spotted-tail quoll, Dasyurus maculatus. These specimens were made available for morphological and molecular characterisation to confirm their species identity. Specimens were examined by light microscopy. Molecular sequencing attempts were unsuccessful. Examination showed that the specimens were adult pentastomes of the genus Linguatula. Morphological differences are reported between these specimens and published measurements of specimens from other hosts collected from the same region. This is the first confirmed report of an adult Linguatula pentastome in a native Australian animal. Due to the small number of specimens and the lack of successful molecular characterisation, the pentastomes have been referred to Linguatula sp. until future work can confirm the species identity. The need for combined molecular and morphological analysis of pentastome specimens is reiterated.