LAUSR

Christmas Island (CHI) is a tiny spot (350 km) located at 10°30′S in the Indian Ocean. It lies 360 km south of Jakarta and 2′600 km west of Perth (www.christmas.net.au). Christmas Island is Australian territory. The island was appropriately named by Captain William Mynors on the 25th of December1643. Originally a volcano, most of the rock on the island today is limestone, formed from corals. The highest point on this island is just 361 m. Phosphate mining is an important industry and there are few beaches and most of the shoreline is cliff. The climate is tropical, with frequent cloudy skies, and heavy rains from November to May. Nearly two thirds of the land is a National Park that protects the rain forest sheltering palms and endemic orchids (Brachypeza, Flickingeria, Phreatia, Zeuxine) (http://www.environment.gov.au/topics/national-parks/). There are also 2 species of mangroves. Native animals include a CHI land crab (Gecarcoidea), a CHI flying fox (Pteropus), birds, and a whale shark (Rhincodon). Said to be “free of many pests and diseases that are found in other parts of the world”, “gifts” have brought nuisances to CHI. Unwanted gifts include cats, black rats (Rattus rattus), giant African snails (Achatina fulica), and varied arthropods. To prevent unwanted introductions, the government can restrict movements of cargo vessels, aircraft, and passengers to and from CHI. A controversy has arisen with asylum seekers arriving on CHI. A surprisingly wide spectrum of infectious organisms has been confirmed to exist on CHI: Bartonella phoceensis from rats, Enterococcus from geckos, Leptospira from cats and rats, Plasmodium-like Haemoproteus from the CHI frigatebirds (Fregata), piroplasms from bats (flying fox), Trypanosoma lewisii from rats, Toxocara cati from cats, and rat flea (Xenopsylla cheopis) from rats. Other infectious agents, that I suspect may exist on CHI include Salmonella from seabirds, environmental vibrios from fish or sea water, Angiostrongylus cantonensis (eosinophilic meningitis) from Achatina snails, and – of course – human pathogens. White Syndrome (which kills corals) is also reported. May your Christmas gifts be blessings. With seasons greetings to readers,