Necropsy findings of koalas from the Mount Lofty Ranges population in South Australia

Speight, Natasha; Hicks, Penni D; Graham, Chelsea M; Boardman, Wayne; Breed, W. G.; Manthorpe, Eve M; Funnell, Oliver; Woolford, Lucy

doi:10.1111/avj.12690

Cited by 23 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…In southern koala populations, the prevalence of infectious diseases is lower in both South Australia and Victoria than that reported in the north. In northern Australian populations, C. pecorum affects up to 90% of koalas, and causes blindness, infertility and death .…”

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confidence: 59%

“…Diseases are also key contributors to decreasing population numbers, particularly Chlamydia pecorum which causes ocular and urogenital infections, and koala retrovirus (KoRV) which may cause the development of lymphoid neoplasia and immunosuppression . Southern (Victoria and South Australia) koala population numbers are considered much more stable, but similarly to northern koalas, trauma and diseases result in the rescue of a large number of wild koalas by members of the public each year, for treatment at local wildlife and veterinary hospitals …”

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confidence: 99%

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Haematological reference intervals of wild southern Australian koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus)

et al. 2020

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Objective Current haematology reference intervals (RIs) for koalas were developed in northern Australian koalas, using low numbers and/or individuals of unknown Chlamydia pecorum and koala retrovirus (KoRV) status. This study developed haematological RIs for wild, clinically healthy southern Australian koalas of known C. pecorum and KoRV infection status and investigated the effects of population, age and sex.Methods Haematological RIs were determined for 138 clinically healthy South Australian koalas (Mount Lofty Ranges [MLR], n = 68; Kangaroo Island, n = 70) examined in April 2016 and February 2017, respectively. C. pecorum and KoRV status were determined by PCR.Results RIs for southern koala haematological parameters were established for all koalas based on the finding that there were limited differences in haematological values in koalas with subclinical C. pecorum or KoRV infections (P > 0.05), except KoRVinfected koalas had a lower haematocrit than noninfected koalas. MLR koalas had significantly lower erythrocyte mass and leucocyte counts than Kangaroo Island koalas. Young koalas had significantly lower haemoglobin, haematocrit and higher mean cellular haemoglobin concentration and lymphocyte counts than adult koalas. MLR male koalas had elevated erythrocyte, leucocyte and neutrophil counts compared with MLR females. ConclusionThe haematological RIs developed in this study are based on a large number of clinically healthy koalas, where subclinical C. pecorum and KoRV infections had no effect on haematological values and will be a valuable tool during clinical examination and disease investigation by veterinarians and researchers Australia-wide.

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confidence: 59%

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confidence: 99%

Haematological reference intervals of wild southern Australian koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus)

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“…Southern koala populations in Victoria and South Australia are considered to be more robust, despite similar health threats. 1 A disease of great concern in South Australia, particularly in the Mount Lofty Ranges koala population near Adelaide, is oxalate nephrosis in which calcium oxalate is deposited in the kidneys. 2 Koalas with oxalate nephrosis show signs of progressive renal dysfunction, 3 such as polydipsia and loss of body condition, often requiring euthanasia on welfare grounds.…”

Section: Abstract Disease;mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…2 Koalas with oxalate nephrosis show signs of progressive renal dysfunction, 3 such as polydipsia and loss of body condition, often requiring euthanasia on welfare grounds. Oxalate nephrosis has been reported to occur in 32% (27/85) of rescued wild koalas necropsied from 2012 to 2013 affected, 1 and 55% (28/51) of those between 2008 and 2010. 2 Oxalate nephrosis is an uncommon finding in koalas elsewhere, with <2% prevalence of oxalate nephrosis found in necropsied New South Wales koalas.…”

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confidence: 99%

Histological survey for oxalate nephrosis in Victorian koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus)

et al. 2020

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The Mount Lofty Ranges koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) population in South Australia has a high prevalence of the renal disease oxalate nephrosis, for which an underlying genetic cause is suspected. South Australian koalas primarily originate from those in French Island, Victoria; however, oxalate nephrosis has not previously been reported in Victorian koalas. Examination of kidney tissue sections from 63 koalas across Victoria found that nine koalas were affected by oxalate nephrosis (14.3%). These included 2/5 koalas from French Island (40%), 4/14 koalas from the western regions (29%), 2/11 Raymond Island koalas (18%), and 1/13 Cape Otway koalas (8%). There were no cases of oxalate nephrosis identified in the Strzelecki koalas (n = 12). These findings suggest that oxalate nephrosis occurs in koalas from French Island and populations that have received significant influx of koalas from French Island, but not in the Strzelecki region, which has little to no French Island input. This lends support to the theory that an inherited abnormality of oxalate metabolism could underlie the high prevalence of oxalate nephrosis in the Mount Lofty Ranges koala population, and molecular investigations are currently underway to investigate a genetic cause.

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“…A group from the University of Adelaide report on the necropsy findings of koalas from the Mount Lofty Ranges, South Australia …”

Section: Wildlife and Zoosmentioning

confidence: 99%

In this issue – May 2018

Jackson¹

2018

Aust Veterinary J

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Necropsy findings of koalas from the Mount Lofty Ranges population in South Australia

Cited by 23 publications

References 22 publications

Haematological reference intervals of wild southern Australian koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus)

Haematological reference intervals of wild southern Australian koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus)

Histological survey for oxalate nephrosis in Victorian koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus)

In this issue – May 2018

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