Charles Sturt researchers have identified and described Procamallanus australiensis, a nematode species previously unknown to science. The discovery expands knowledge of Australia’s freshwater biodiversity and provides an important foundation for fish health, conservation and biosecurity surveillance.
Artwork by Kym Grundy
Australia is renowned for its unique wildlife, from koalas and kangaroos to platypuses and native freshwater fish. Yet far less is known about the parasites that have evolved alongside these animals and the role they play in aquatic ecosystems.
New research from Charles Sturt University has helped fill this knowledge gap by identifying and formally describing a nematode species previously unknown to science.
The species, Procamallanus australiensis sp. nov., was discovered in Australian native freshwater fish and described in the journal Marine and Freshwater Research by Professor Shokoofeh Shamsi from the Gulbali Institute and Charles Sturt Veterinary Science graduate Kym Grundy.
The study provides an important new reference point for researchers, veterinarians and aquatic animal health professionals seeking to understand parasite diversity, fish health and future biosecurity surveillance in Australian freshwater ecosystems.
Murray cod were among the native freshwater fish examined during the study, which revealed previously overlooked parasite diversity in Australian waterways
Parasites are an important part of biodiversity, but those found in Australian freshwater fish remain poorly understood. Despite decades of research, new parasite species continue to be discovered.
Without accurate information about which parasite species are present, the fish they infect and how they are transmitted, it can be difficult to distinguish native parasite diversity from emerging disease or biosecurity concerns.
This knowledge is important for conserving native biodiversity, managing the health of aquaculture species and understanding how introduced animals may influence parasite transmission.
Professor Shamsi said each newly described species adds another piece to Australia’s biodiversity record.
“Every new parasite species we describe is another piece of Australia’s biodiversity puzzle,” Professor Shamsi said.
“Parasites are often overlooked, yet they are an integral part of biodiversity. Understanding parasite diversity is fundamental to conservation, aquatic animal health, biosecurity and our knowledge of how ecosystems have evolved.”
The research team examined freshwater fish collected in New South Wales and Queensland.
Parasites were recovered using visual inspection and incubation methods before being examined using morphological and molecular techniques.
Genetic analysis of the 18S rRNA, 28S rRNA and COI gene regions demonstrated that the Australian specimens formed a genetically distinct lineage within the Camallanidae family.
This evidence, together with detailed examination of the parasites’ physical characteristics, allowed the researchers to formally identify and describe Procamallanus australiensis as a new species.
The species was detected in native Australian freshwater fish, Murray cod and golden perch as well as the introduced mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis.
The researchers also detected an invasive acanthocephalan parasite, tentatively identified as Acanthocephalus lucii, in Murray cod from Cataract Dam.
The study represents the first integrated morphological and genetic characterisation of Procamallanus nematodes from Australian native freshwater fish.
A significant element of the research was the collaboration between Professor Shamsi and co-author Kym Grundy, a Charles Sturt Veterinary Science graduate.
Ms Grundy produced the detailed scientific illustrations accompanying the formal species description.
Scientific illustrations of 'Procamallanus australiensis' sp. nov. created by Kym Grundy
Scanning electron micrograph showing the detailed structure of the newly described nematode, Kym Grundy
Microscopic examination of Procamallanus australiensis sp. nov. allowed researchers to measure and document the anatomical characteristics that distinguish it from related species.
These illustrations capture the anatomical features that distinguish the new nematode from related species and provide a permanent visual reference for future taxonomic and diagnostic work.
Professor Shamsi said scientific illustration played an essential role in defining and documenting newly discovered species.
“These drawings are far more than artwork,” she said.
“They capture diagnostic features with remarkable accuracy and help define species for generations to come.”
The collaboration highlights the value of combining veterinary science, taxonomy, molecular research and scientific illustration to build knowledge of Australia’s aquatic biodiversity.
The immediate impact of the research is the creation of a robust scientific reference that can be used to identify and compare related parasites.
By providing both genetic and morphological reference information, the study gives researchers and aquatic animal health professionals a stronger foundation for:
The presence of Procamallanus australiensis in both native fish and introduced mosquitofish also raises important questions about parasite ecology.
Further research will be needed to determine the parasite’s full host range, life cycle, distribution and potential effects on fish health.
This future work could help inform freshwater conservation, aquaculture health management and biosecurity surveillance.
Importantly, the discovery does not itself indicate an immediate biosecurity threat. Instead, it provides the baseline knowledge needed to recognise changes, investigate unusual findings and assess future biosecurity challenges more effectively.
Parasites are often viewed solely as agents of disease, but they are also an integral part of biodiversity and play important roles in healthy ecosystems.
Their presence, diversity and relationships with hosts can help researchers understand food webs, environmental change, species movement and the evolutionary history of aquatic environments.
By revealing previously overlooked parasite diversity, the research broadens understanding of what constitutes a healthy and biodiverse freshwater ecosystem.
It also reinforces the importance of documenting lesser-known organisms before environmental change, invasive species and habitat pressures alter ecosystems or lead to the loss of species before they are even discovered.
The paper, “Hidden diversity of camallanid nematodes in freshwater fishes: description of Procamallanus australiensis sp. nov. and implications for host range and parasite transmission”, was published in Marine and Freshwater Research.
Professor Shokoofeh Shamsi with Charles Sturt Veterinary Science graduate and study co-author Kym Grundy at Kym’s graduation.
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Charles Sturt researchers have identified and described Procamallanus australiensis, a nematode species previously unknown to science. The discovery expands knowledge of Australia’s freshwater biodiversity and provides an important foundation for fish health, conservation and biosecurity surveillance.
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