Daintree ulcer theory
Survey finds bandicoots possible carriers Ram raid appeal quashed
THE humble bandicoot may play a key role in spreading a harmful flesh-eating bacteria in Far North Queensland.
James Cook University researchers have discovered that bandicoots in the Douglas Shire region may be reservoirs for the bacteria that causes the Daintree ulcer, also known as Buruli ulcer in humans.
The bacterial disease, which causes necrosis of skin tissue, has been reported in more than 33 countries. There has only been one case of the infection identified in the Cairns health district this year, however about 100 cases have been reported in Victoria since the start of 2019.
The slow-growing bacteria’s exact path of transmission to humans has largely remained a mystery, however scientists found last year that it may be transferred to humans via mosquitoes.
James Cook University scientists trapped and analysed 140 bandicoots, four whitetailed rats, and two possums in the Mossman-Daintree area from March 2016 to February 2018. Of these mammals, they found three bandicoots tested positive for the Daintree ulcer bacteria, Mycobacterium ulcerans.
Lead study author, JCU PhD candidate Avishek Singh, said the finding showed bandicoots may be a reservoir for the disease.
“This bacterial organism multiplies inside the bandicoots,” he said. “The mosquitoes take in the bacteria, and then inject it into humans.”
Mr Singh suggested the relatively low amount of the bacteria found in trapped animals related to the overall reduced load of the pathogen in the environment – thought to be linked to rainfall. He said there was still much more to learn about the bacteria, in particular why it was so geographically restricted to the Mossman-Daintree area.
“We still can’t explain why it doesn’t occur in bandicoots outside of this area,” he said.
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A VENDING machine ram raider who left a trail of destruction across the Cairns CBD has lost an appeal against her sentence.
Frances Jade King accrued an unenviable criminal history for burglary, shoplifting and car theft between November 2018 and March this year, including breaking into Anglicare and Youthlink offices. Her crime spree came to an end when she and a co-offender ram-raided a vending machine in a Cairns CBD unit complex, pinching $145 of confectionary and causing $600 of damage.
The pair had improvised a battering ram from stolen car mats and a basket on wheels.
Cairns Magistrates Court heard King had a history of using methylamphetamine.
King was sentenced by acting magistrate Raimund Heggie to 15 months in jail but appealed the punishment as excessive.
Judge Tracy Fantin rejected the appeal. “While another sentencing judge may have imposed a more lenient sentence, it was open to his honour to conclude that a short period of actual custody of 15 months followed by a lengthy period of supervision in the community was appropriate,” she wrote.