2010/11/03 by Jasmin Hufschmid, J. Hufschmid, K. A. Handasyde +3
Environmental Science · Immunology and Microbiology · #Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies #Bird parasitology and diseases #Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
paper · doi:10.1071/zo10030
openalex publication_date 2010/11/03 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/26
Rumpwear is a common, but poorly defined and understood disease of brushtail possums (Trichosurus spp.) in Australia and New Zealand, resulting in varying degrees of fur loss. Populations of Trichosurus cunninghami (mountain brushtail possum) and T. vulpecula (common brushtail possum) were studied over two years at Boho South (Victoria), to describe the disease, investigate its prevalence and explore its epidemiology. The main type of lesion observed was coat damage in the lumbo-sacral region, and increased severity of rumpwear was related to decreased coat length and increased hair breakage. Significant skin lesions were rare and hair breakage patterns suggested mechanical damage. Rumpwear was very prevalent in both T. cunninghami and T. vulpecula, but very severe rumpwear was rare. There was no true seasonal pattern to the prevalence of rumpwear in T. cunninghami and sex and habitat did not affect prevalence or severity. Prevalence and severity of rumpwear did, however, increase with age. There were no significant relationships between the number of previous captures or body condition index with rumpwear.