Publications
| Title | Abstract | Year Filter | PMID(sorted ascending) Filter |
|---|
| the contribution of community wisdom to conservation ecology. | scientists have traditionally collected data on whether a population is increasing, decreasing, or staying the same, but such studies are often limited by geographic scale and time frame. this means that for many species, understanding of trends comes from only part of their ranges at particular periods. working with citizen scientists has the potential to overcome these limits. citizen science has the added benefit of exposing citizens to the scientific process and engaging them in management o ... | 2016 | 27110657 |
| the koala, an iconic animal under threat. | 2016 | 27124327 | |
| antibody and cytokine responses of koalas (phascolarctos cinereus) vaccinated with recombinant chlamydial major outer membrane protein (momp) with two different adjuvants. | developing a vaccine against chlamydia is key to combating widespread mortalities and morbidities associated with this infection in koalas (phascolarctos cinereus). in previous studies, we have shown that two or three doses of a recombinant major outer membrane protein (rmomp) antigen-based vaccine, combined with immune stimulating complex (isc) adjuvant, results in strong cellular and humoral immune responses in koalas. we have also separately evaluated a single dose vaccine, utilising a tri-ad ... | 2016 | 27219467 |
| tree-hugging behavior beats the heat. | animals can exploit spatial and temporal variation in microclimates to avoid stressful conditions, behavior that is likely to become increasingly important in a warming world. recent research shows that during hot weather cool tree trunk surfaces can provide an important heat-loss avenue for arboreal mammals and other tree-dwelling animals. | 2017 | 27226989 |
| endogenous gibbon ape leukemia virus identified in a rodent (melomys burtoni subsp.) from wallacea (indonesia). | gibbon ape leukemia virus (galv) and koala retrovirus (korv) most likely originated from a cross-species transmission of an ancestral retrovirus into koalas and gibbons via one or more intermediate as-yet-unknown hosts. a virus highly similar to galv has been identified in an australian native rodent (melomys burtoni) after extensive screening of australian wildlife. galv-like viruses have also been discovered in several southeast asian species, although screening has not been extensive and viru ... | 2016 | 27384662 |
| genomic characterization of the uncultured bacteroidales family s24-7 inhabiting the guts of homeothermic animals. | our view of host-associated microbiota remains incomplete due to the presence of as yet uncultured constituents. the bacteroidales family s24-7 is a prominent example of one of these groups. marker gene surveys indicate that members of this family are highly localized to the gastrointestinal tracts of homeothermic animals and are increasingly being recognized as a numerically predominant member of the gut microbiota; however, little is known about the nature of their interactions with the host. | 2016 | 27388460 |
| fecal glucocorticoid metabolite response of captive koalas (phascolarctos cinereus) to visitor encounters. | physiological responses of wildlife species to zoo visitors should be studied to better understand how wildlife perceive human encounters. we conducted an experimental test of the effect of changes in zoo visitor encounter experiences on the glucocorticoid (gc) response of koalas (phascolarctos cinereus) in a sydney zoo. koalas were housed in a multiple-bay enclosure (two to three koalas per bay) for photography sessions with zoo visitors (no touching of koalas permitted by visitors). following ... | 2017 | 27418014 |
| can citizen science assist in determining koala (phascolarctos cinereus) presence in a declining population? | the acceptance and application of citizen science has risen over the last 10 years, with this rise likely attributed to an increase in public awareness surrounding anthropogenic impacts affecting urban ecosystems. citizen science projects have the potential to expand upon data collected by specialist researchers as they are able to gain access to previously unattainable information, consequently increasing the likelihood of an effective management program. the primary objective of this research ... | 2016 | 27429008 |
| koala retrovirus: a review. | koala retrovirus (korv) is a gammaretrovirus that has been identified in both captive and free-ranging koalas ( phascolarctos cinereus ) with variable geographic distribution in australia. korv is capable of both exogenous and endogenous transmission, which provides an interesting research platform for scientists to study active retrovirus endogenization into a host genome and offers veterinary scientists an opportunity to examine the clinical consequences of korv infection in koalas. causation ... | 2016 | 27468008 |
| first report of a spermatic granuloma and varicocele in a marsupial: a koala (phascolarctos cinereus) case study. | this study reports the first documented clinical case of a spermatic granuloma and varicocele in a marsupial. initial clinical presentation included gross morphological changes in the left scrotal cord, epididymis and testis. ultrasonography of the scrotum and spermatic cord, and gross and histopathological examination after hemicastration, confirmed the condition as a spermatic granuloma affecting the left caput epididymis, with a varicocele in the left proximal spermatic cord, which was causin ... | 2016 | 27473971 |
| new koala chlamydia vaccine trialed. | 2016 | 27486605 | |
| koalas (phascolarctos cinereus) from queensland are genetically distinct from 2 populations in victoria. | the koala (phascolarctos cinereus) suffered population declines and local extirpation due to hunting in the early 20th century, especially in southern australia. koalas were subsequently reintroduced to the brisbane ranges (br) and stony rises (sr) by translocating individuals from a population on french island descended from a small number of founders. to examine genetic diversity and north-south differentiation, we genotyped 13 microsatellite markers in 46 wild koalas from the br and sr, and 2 ... | 2016 | 27515769 |
| chlamydia serine protease inhibitor, targeting htra, as a new treatment for koala chlamydia infection. | the koala, an iconic marsupial native to australia, is a threatened species in many parts of the country. one major factor in the decline is disease caused by infection with chlamydia. current therapeutic strategies to treat chlamydiosis in the koala are limited. this study examines the effectiveness of an inhibitor, jo146, which targets the htra serine protease for treatment of c. pecorum and c. pneumoniae in vitro and ex vivo with the aim of developing a novel therapeutic for koala chlamydia i ... | 2016 | 27530689 |
| pneumonia due to chlamydia pecorum in a koala (phascolarctos cinereus). | chlamydiosis is a common infectious disease of koalas (phascolarctos cinereus), but chlamydia spp. have not yet been demonstrated to cause pneumonia in these animals. a juvenile male koala died following an episode of respiratory disease. at necropsy examination, the lung tissue was consolidated. microscopical lesions in the lung included pyogranulomatous bronchopneumonia, proliferation of bronchiolar and alveolar epithelium and interstitial fibrosis. hyperplastic bronchiolar epithelial cells co ... | 2016 | 27567271 |
| phylogeography of the koala, (phascolarctos cinereus), and harmonising data to inform conservation. | the australian continent exhibits complex biogeographic patterns but studies of the impacts of pleistocene climatic oscillation on the mesic environments of the southern hemisphere are limited. the koala (phascolarctos cinereus), one of australia's most iconic species, was historically widely distributed throughout much of eastern australia but currently represents a complex conservation challenge. to better understand the challenges to koala genetic health, we assessed the phylogeographic histo ... | 2016 | 27588685 |
| detection of koala retrovirus subgroup b (korv-b) in animals housed at european zoos. | many koalas carry an endogenous retrovirus, korv-a, in their genome. recently, a second retrovirus, korv-b, was detected in koalas in japanese and u.s. zoos. however, this virus is not endogenous, differs in the receptor binding site of the surface envelope protein, and uses a receptor different from that of korv-a. we describe here a korv-b found in koalas at zoos in germany and belgium that differs slightly from that found in the los angeles zoo. | 2016 | 27638778 |
| the rescue and rehabilitation of koalas (phascolarctos cinereus) in southeast queensland. | koala populations in southeast queensland are under threat from many factors, particularly habitat loss, dog attack, vehicle trauma and disease. animals not killed from these impacts are often rescued and taken into care for rehabilitation, and eventual release back to the wild if deemed to be healthy. this study investigated current rescue, rehabilitation and release data for koalas admitted to the four major wildlife hospitals in southeast queensland (australia zoo wildlife hospital (azwh), cu ... | 2016 | 27649249 |
| altered immune cytokine expression associated with korv b infection and season in captive koalas. | koala (phascolarctos cinereus) populations are increasingly vulnerable and one of the main threats is chlamydial infection. koala retrovirus (korv) has been proposed as an underlying cause of the koala's susceptibility to infection with chlamydia and high rates of lymphoid neoplasia; however, the regionally ubiquitous, endogenous nature of this virus suggests that korv a infection is not sufficient for immune suppression to occur. a recently discovered exogenous variant of korv, korv b, has seve ... | 2016 | 27706211 |
| treatment of chlamydia-associated ocular disease via a recombinant protein based vaccine in the koala (phascolarctos cinereus). | koalas (phascolarctos cinereus) are affected by debilitating chlamydial disease that can lead to blindness, infertility, and death. the causative agent is the intracellular bacterium chlamydia pecorum. while antibiotics can be used to treat koala chlamydial infection, they are often ineffective or cause severe dysbiosis to the animal's unique gut flora. recent work has progressed on the development of a protective vaccine for chlamydia in the koala. this study demonstrates that the use of a vacc ... | 2016 | 27707559 |
| characterisation of the immune compounds in koala milk using a combined transcriptomic and proteomic approach. | production of milk is a key characteristic of mammals, but the features of lactation vary greatly between monotreme, marsupial and eutherian mammals. marsupials have a short gestation followed by a long lactation period, and milk constituents vary greatly across lactation. marsupials are born immunologically naïve and rely on their mother's milk for immunological protection. koalas (phascolarctos cinereus) are an iconic australian species that are increasingly threatened by disease. here we use ... | 2016 | 27713568 |
| characterization of the antimicrobial peptide family defensins in the tasmanian devil (sarcophilus harrisii), koala (phascolarctos cinereus), and tammar wallaby (macropus eugenii). | defensins comprise a family of cysteine-rich antimicrobial peptides with important roles in innate and adaptive immune defense in vertebrates. we characterized alpha and beta defensin genes in three australian marsupials: the tasmanian devil (sarcophilus harrisii), koala (phascolarctos cinereus), and tammar wallaby (macropus eugenii) and identified 48, 34, and 39 defensins, respectively. one hundred and twelve have the classical antimicrobial peptides characteristics required for pathogen membra ... | 2017 | 27838759 |
| phylogenetic diversity of koala retrovirus within a wild koala population. | koala populations are in serious decline across many areas of mainland australia, with infectious disease a contributing factor. koala retrovirus (korv) is a gammaretrovirus present in most wild koala populations and captive colonies. five subtypes of korv (a to e) have been identified based on amino acid sequence divergence in a hypervariable region of the receptor binding domain of the envelope protein. however, analysis of viral genetic diversity has been conducted primarily on korv in captiv ... | 2017 | 27881645 |
| daylight saving time can decrease the frequency of wildlife-vehicle collisions. | daylight saving time (dst) could reduce collisions with wildlife by changing the timing of commuter traffic relative to the behaviour of nocturnal animals. to test this idea, we tracked wild koalas (phascolarctos cinereus) in southeast queensland, where koalas have declined by 80% in the last 20 years, and compared their movements with traffic patterns along roads where they are often killed. using a simple model, we found that dst could decrease collisions with koalas by 8% on weekdays and 11% ... | 2016 | 27881767 |
| chlamydial infections in wildlife-conservation threats and/or reservoirs of 'spill-over' infections? | members of the order chlamydiales are biphasic intracellular pathogens known to cause disease in both humans and animals. as we learn more about the genetic diversity of this group of pathogens, evidence is growing that these bacteria infect a broader range of animal hosts than previously thought. over 400 host species are now documented globally with the majority of these being wild animals. given the impact of chlamydial infections on humans and domesticated animals, the identification of memb ... | 2016 | 27939160 |
| transspecies transmission of gammaretroviruses and the origin of the gibbon ape leukaemia virus (galv) and the koala retrovirus (korv). | transspecies transmission of retroviruses is a frequent event, and the human immunodeficiency virus-1 (hiv-1) is a well-known example. the gibbon ape leukaemia virus (galv) and koala retrovirus (korv), two gammaretroviruses, are also the result of a transspecies transmission, however from a still unknown host. related retroviruses have been found in southeast asian mice although the sequence similarity was limited. viruses with a higher sequence homology were isolated from melomys burtoni, the a ... | 2016 | 27999419 |
| gradients in cytoarchitectural landscapes of the isocortex: diprotodont marsupials in comparison to eutherian mammals. | although it has been claimed that marsupials possess a lower density of isocortical neurons compared with other mammals, little is known about cross-cortical variation in neuron distributions in this diverse taxonomic group. we quantified upper-layer (layers ii-iv) and lower-layer (layers v-vi) neuron numbers per unit of cortical surface area in three diprotodont marsupial species (two macropodiformes, the red kangaroo and the parma wallaby, and a vombatiform, the koala) and compared these resul ... | 2017 | 28001295 |
| supplemental feeding of captive neonatal koalas (phascolarctos cinereus). | koalas (phascolarctos cinereus) are cautious animals, making supplemental feeding of neonates challenging because of disturbances to the normal routine. however, supplemental feeding is beneficial in improving juvenile nutrition using less formula than required for hand-rearing, and allowing maternal bonding to continue through suckling. in this study, two neonatal koalas, delivered by the same mother in 2 years, exhibited insufficient growth post-emergence from the pouch; supplemental feeding w ... | 2017 | 28026882 |
| koala retrovirus (korv) genotyping analyses reveal a low prevalence of korv-a in victorian koalas and an association with clinical disease. | koala retrovirus (korv) is currently undergoing endogenisation into the genome of koalas in australia, providing an opportunity to assess the effect of retrovirus infection on the health of a population. the prevalence of korv in north eastern australia (queensland and new south wales) is 100%, whereas previous preliminary investigations in south eastern australia (victoria) suggested korv is present at a lower prevalence, although the values have varied widely. here we describe a large study of ... | 2016 | 28032537 |
| novel chlamydiales genotypes identified in ticks from australian wildlife. | members of the order chlamydiales are known for their potential as human and veterinary bacterial pathogens. despite this recognition, epidemiological factors such as routes of transmission are yet to be fully defined. ticks are well known vectors for many other infections with several reports recently describing the presence of bacteria in the order chlamydiales in these arthropods. australian wildlife are hosts to an extensive range of tick species. evidence is also growing that the marsupial ... | 2017 | 28122598 |
| skeletal fluorosis in marsupials: a comparison of bone lesions in six species from an australian industrial site. | in this study we explored the prevalence, type, location and severity of skeletal lesions in six species of australian marsupial (macropus giganteus, notamacropus rufogriseus, wallabia bicolor, phascolarctos cinereus, trichosurus vulpecula and pseudocheirus peregrinus) from high and low-fluoride environments. lesions occurred to varying extents in all species, and lesion distribution varied with biomechanical differences in gait and mastication. bone fluoride levels increased with severity of pe ... | 2017 | 28185728 |
| decline causes of koalas in south east queensland, australia: a 17-year retrospective study of mortality and morbidity. | koala populations are in catastrophic decline in certain eastern australian regions. spanning from 1997-2013, a database derived from wildlife hospitals in southeast queensland with n = 20,250 entries was classified by causes of morbidity and mortality. a total of 11 aetiologies were identified, with chlamydiosis, trauma, and wasting being most common. the clinical diagnosis at submission varied significantly over the observation period. combinations of aetiologies were observed in 39% of koalas ... | 2017 | 28218272 |
| a new look at the origins of gibbon ape leukemia virus. | is the origin of gibbon ape leukemia virus (galv) human after all? when galv was discovered and found to cause neoplastic disease in gibbons, it stimulated a great deal of research including investigations into the origins of this virus. a number of publications have suggested that the galv progenitor was a retrovirus present in one of several species of south east asian rodents that had close contact with captive gibbons. however, there are no published retroviral sequences from any south east ... | 2017 | 28220345 |
| koala retrovirus genotyping analyses reveal a low prevalence of korv-a in victorian koalas and an association with clinical disease. | koala retrovirus (korv) is undergoing endogenization into the genome of koalas in australia, providing an opportunity to assess the effect of retrovirus infection on the health of a population. the prevalence of korv in north-eastern australia (queensland and new south wales) is 100 %, whereas previous preliminary investigations in south-eastern australia (victoria) suggested korv is present at a lower prevalence, although the values have varied widely. here, we describe a large study of free-ra ... | 2017 | 28266284 |
| infection with koala retrovirus subgroup b (korv-b), but not korv-a, is associated with chlamydial disease in free-ranging koalas (phascolarctos cinereus). | the virulence of chlamydial infection in wild koalas is highly variable between individuals. some koalas can be infected (pcr positive) with chlamydia for long periods but remain asymptomatic, whereas others develop clinical disease. chlamydia in the koala has traditionally been studied without regard to coinfection with other pathogens, although koalas are usually subject to infection with koala retrovirus (korv). retroviruses can be immunosuppressive, and there is evidence of an immunosuppress ... | 2017 | 28273935 |
| bioaugmentation of the anaerobic digestion of food waste by dungs of herbivore, carnivore, and omnivore zoo animals. | the potential improvement of biomethanation of food waste (fw) by adding dung of herbivore (giraffe, llama, koala), carnivore (tiger), and omnivore (sloth bear) animals to anaerobic sludge (ans) was investigated. adding 30% giraffe, sloth bear or koala dung to the ans inoculum yielded, respectively, a 11.17 (±4.51), 10.10 (±1.23), and 1.41 (±0.56)% higher biomethane production, as compared to the control (fw with solely ans). the highest biomethane production of 564.00 (±3.88) ml ch4/gvsadded ob ... | 2017 | 28274187 |
| intraspecific variation in eucalyptus secondary metabolites determines food intake by folivorous marsupials. | traditional approaches to the question of the effects of plant secondary metabolites on the feeding choices of folivores of eucalyptus have focused on the tree species level, although numerous field studies of foraging behaviour have identified selection at the level of the individual trees. attempts to relate these decisions to deterrency resulting from secondary leaf chemistry have been inconclusive because assays used have focused on broad groups of compounds such as "total" phenolics. in thi ... | 1998 | 28308521 |
| gut colonization by methanogenic archaea is associated with organic dairy consumption in children. | the gut microbiota represents a complex and diverse ecosystem with a profound impact on human health, promoting immune maturation, and host metabolism as well as colonization resistance. important members that have often been disregarded are the methanogenic archaea. methanogenic archaea reduce hydrogen levels via the production of methane, thereby stimulating food fermentation by saccharolytic bacteria. on the other hand, colonization by archaea has been suggested to promote a number of gastroi ... | 2017 | 28344572 |
| associations of plasma uric acid and purine metabolites with blood pressure in children: the koala birth cohort study. | elevated serum uric acid concentration has been associated with high blood pressure (bp) and hypertension. a putative underlying mechanism is the accumulation of reactive oxygen species when uric acid is generated by an increased enzyme activity of xanthine oxidase (xo). the aims of the present study were to investigate the associations between plasma uric acid concentration, purine metabolite ratios, as proxies for increased xo activity, and sbp and dbp in school-age children. | 2017 | 28355168 |
| atypical presentation of cryptococcus neoformans in a koala (phascolarctos cinereus): a magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography study. | cryptococcosis is a worldwide and potentially fatal mycosis documented in wild and captive koalas ( phascolarctos cinereus ) caused by cryptococcus neoformans . though mainly a subclinical disease, when the nasal cavity is affected, epistaxis, mucopurulent nasal discharge, dyspnea, and facial distortion may occur. this report describes a case of cryptococcosis in a koala where unilateral exophthalmos was the only evident clinical sign and magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography findin ... | 2017 | 28363053 |
| complete genome sequence of the streptococcus gallolyticus subsp. gallolyticus strain dsm 16831. | streptococcus gallolyticus subsp. gallolyticus dsm 16831 is an intriguing strain because of its low virulent phenotype compared to other isolates. we present here the complete genome sequence for this strain isolated from koala feces. | 2017 | 28428288 |
| pharmacokinetics of posaconazole in koalas (phascolarctos cinereus) after intravenous and oral administration. | the pharmacokinetic profile of posaconazole in clinically normal koalas (n = 8) was investigated. single doses of posaconazole were administered intravenously (i.v.; 3 mg/kg; n = 2) or orally (p.o.; 6 mg/kg; n = 6) with serial plasma samples collected over 24 and 36 hr, respectively. plasma concentrations of posaconazole were quantified by validated high-performance liquid chromatography. a noncompartmental pharmacokinetic analysis of data was performed. following i.v. administration, estimates ... | 2017 | 28455999 |
| organic food consumption during pregnancy is associated with different consumer profiles, food patterns and intake: the koala birth cohort study. | to find out how the consumption of organic food during pregnancy is associated with consumer characteristics, dietary patterns and macro- and micronutrient intakes. | 0 | 28560934 |
| immunization of a wild koala population with a recombinant chlamydia pecorum major outer membrane protein (momp) or polymorphic membrane protein (pmp) based vaccine: new insights into immune response, protection and clearance. | we assessed the effects of two different single-dose anti-chlamydia pecorum (c. pecorum) vaccines (containing either major outer membrane protein (3momp) or polymorphic membrane protein (pmp) as antigens) on the immune response of a group of wild koalas. both vaccines elicited a systemic humoral response as seen by the production of anti-chlamydial igg antibodies in more than 90% of vaccinated koalas. a mucosal immune response was also observed, with an increase in chlamydia-specific mucosal igg ... | 2017 | 28575080 |
| a novel combination adjuvant platform for human and animal vaccines. | adjuvants are crucial components of many vaccines. they are used to improve the immunogenicity of vaccines with the aim of conferring long-term protection, to enhance the efficacy of vaccines in newborns, elderly or immunocompromised persons, and to reduce the amount of antigen or the number of doses required to elicit effective immunity. novel combination adjuvants have been tested in both candidate animals and humans vaccines and have generated encouraging results. recently, we developed a com ... | 2017 | 28599794 |
| organic food consumption during pregnancy and its association with health-related characteristics: the koala birth cohort study. | to investigate the associations of organic food consumption with maternal pre-pregnancy bmi, hypertension and diabetes in pregnancy, and several blood biomarkers of pregnant women. | 2017 | 28625206 |
| in this issue - july 2017: rhdv vaccine protects against both strains of virus · olfactory neuroblastoma in a malamute · coincidental conditions affecting dysphagia in a miniature poodle · support for storing high-quality bovine colostrum · sarcoptic mange in koalas · renal oxalosis in rare gilbert's potoroos · novel trypanosomes in a little red flying fox. | 2017 | 28653384 | |
| outbreaks of sarcoptic mange in free-ranging koala populations in victoria and south australia: a case series. | to describe outbreaks of sarcoptic mange caused by sarcoptes scabiei in free-ranging koalas in victoria (december 2008 to november 2015) and south australia (october 2011 to september 2014). | 2017 | 28653387 |
| characterisation of mhc class i genes in the koala. | koala (phascolarctos cinereus) populations are on the decline across the majority of australia's mainland. two major diseases threatening the long-term survival of affected koala populations are caused by obligate intracellular pathogens: chlamydia and koala retrovirus (korv). to improve our understanding of the koala immune system, we characterised their major histocompatibility complex (mhc) class i genes, which are centrally involved in presenting foreign peptides derived from intracellular p ... | 2018 | 28669101 |
| the first case of onychomycosis in a koala (phascolarctos cinereus) due to atypical isolates of microsporum gypseum, a diagnostic challenge. | superficial mycotic infections have been only poorly described in koalas and there are no reliable mycologically confirmed data regarding clinical isolation of dermatophytes in this animal. we report an 11-year-old female koala, kept in a zoo in tokyo, japan, and presenting with hyperkeratotic lesions and scaly plaques on forepaw claws and pads reminiscent of fungal infection. | 2016 | 28681020 |
| bidirectional associations between activity-related parenting practices, and child physical activity, sedentary screen-based behavior and body mass index: a longitudinal analysis. | it has been generally assumed that activity-related parenting practices influence children's activity behavior and weight status. however, vice versa parents may also change their parenting behaviors in response to their perceptions of their child's activity behavior and weight status. this study examined the bidirectional relationships between activity-related parenting practices, and physical activity, sedentary screen-based behavior, and body mass index (bmi) between children's age of 5 and 7 ... | 2017 | 28683749 |
| microbiota composition of the koala (phascolarctos cinereus) ocular and urogenital sites, and their association with chlamydia infection and disease. | disease caused by chlamydia pecorum is characterised by ocular and urogenital infections that can lead to blindness and infertility in koalas. however, koalas that are infected with c. pecorum do not always progress to disease. in other host systems, the influence of the microbiota has been implicated in either accelerating or preventing infections progressing to disease. this study investigates the contribution of koala urogenital and ocular microbiota to chlamydia infection and disease in a fr ... | 2017 | 28701755 |
| review of some pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of anti-infective medicines administered to the koala (phascolarctos cinereus). | although koalas are iconic australian animals, no pharmacokinetic studies of any first-line medicines used to treat diseased or injured koalas had been published prior to 2010. traditionally, medicine dosages suggested for this species underwent linear extrapolation from those recommended for domesticated species. the koala, a specialist folivore whose natural diet consists of almost exclusively eucalyptus spp. foliage has anatomical and physiological adaptations for detoxifying their diet which ... | 2018 | 28703410 |
| increased genetic diversity and prevalence of co-infection with trypanosoma spp. in koalas (phascolarctos cinereus) and their ticks identified using next-generation sequencing (ngs). | infections with trypanosoma spp. have been associated with poor health and decreased survival of koalas (phascolarctos cinereus), particularly in the presence of concurrent pathogens such as chlamydia and koala retrovirus. the present study describes the application of a next-generation sequencing (ngs)-based assay to characterise the prevalence and genetic diversity of trypanosome communities in koalas and two native species of ticks (ixodes holocyclus and i. tasmani) removed from koala hosts. ... | 2017 | 28704541 |
| consistent patterns of vehicle collision risk for six mammal species. | the occurrence and rate of wildlife-vehicle collisions are related to both anthropocentric and environmental variables, however, few studies compare collision risks for multiple species within a model framework that is adaptable and transferable. our research compares collision risk for multiple species across a large geographic area using a conceptually simple risk framework. we used six species of native terrestrial mammal often involved with wildlife-vehicle collisions in south-east australia ... | 2017 | 28704730 |
| a survey of pesticide accumulation in a specialist feeder, the koala (phascolarctos cinereus). | to maintain profitability in australia's agricultural and urban landscapes pesticides are used throughout the range of koala habitats. the koala is a specialist feeder, reliant on metabolic enzyme capacities to utilise a toxic diet of eucalypt leaves and is potentially prone to adverse effects when xenobiotic interactions between dietary and anthropogenic xenobiotics occur. the aim of this study was to investigate accumulation of frequently used pesticides in wild koalas in 4 areas of new south ... | 2017 | 28712016 |
| in this issue - september 2017: identifying bloodlines of animals with mutations · sexed semen in dairy cows · conventional vs automatic milking systems · overground endoscopy in thoroughbred horses · honeys for wound healing · cabergoline in anoestrous bitches · florfenicol not recommended for chlamydiosis in koalas. | 2017 | 28845563 | |
| assessment of florfenicol as a possible treatment for chlamydiosis in koalas (phascolarctos cinereus). | because of limited availability of chloramphenicol to veterinary suppliers, a preliminary study was performed to predict whether an analogue, florfenicol, is an efficacious treatment for chlamydiosis in koalas. | 2017 | 28845567 |
| a survey of ticks (acari: ixodidae) from an over-abundant koala (phascolarctos cinereus) population in south eastern australia, with an overview of the ticks and mites of koalas. | within australia, koala over-abundance has become a serious problem in some areas resulting in significant damage to native forests through defoliation. an over-abundant victorian koala population was surveyed for ticks in the autumn of 2016. during the survey 1036 ticks were collected from 158 koalas. all ticks collected were identified as ixodes tasmani. tick prevalence, infestation intensity and on-host sex ratios were calculated for the population. an overview of the ticks and mites associat ... | 2017 | 28849430 |
| development and evaluation of rapid novel isothermal amplification assays for important veterinary pathogens: chlamydia psittaci and chlamydia pecorum. | chlamydia psittaci and chlamydia pecorum are important veterinary pathogens, with the former also being responsible for zoonoses, and the latter adversely affecting koala populations in australia and livestock globally. the rapid detection of these organisms is still challenging, particularly at the point-of-care (poc). in the present study, we developed and evaluated rapid, sensitive and robust c. psittaci-specific and c. pecorum-specific loop mediated isothermal amplification (lamp) assays for ... | 2017 | 28929022 |
| lymphoma, koala retrovirus infection and reproductive chlamydiosis in a koala (phascolarctos cinereus). | koala retrovirus (korv) infection, thought to be associated with lymphoid neoplasia, and chlamydia pecorum-related ocular and urogenital disease are both highly prevalent in eastern australian koala (phascolarctos cinereus) populations. however, in south australian koalas, little is known about korv infection and c. pecorum-associated disease. we report the first south australian case of lymphoma in a korv-a-positive female koala also affected by severe reproductive chlamydiosis. the koala was f ... | 2017 | 28942303 |
| development and field validation of a regional, management-scale habitat model: a koalaphascolarctos cinereuscase study. | species distribution models have great potential to efficiently guide management for threatened species, especially for those that are rare or cryptic. we used maxent to develop a regional-scale model for the koalaphascolarctos cinereusat a resolution (250 m) that could be used to guide management. to ensure the model was fit for purpose, we placed emphasis on validating the model using independently-collected field data. we reduced substantial spatial clustering of records in coastal urban area ... | 2017 | 28944032 |
| molecular evidence of chlamydia pecorum and arthropod-associated chlamydiae in an expanded range of marsupials. | the order chlamydiales are biphasic intracellular bacterial pathogens infecting humans and domesticated animals. wildlife infections have also been reported, with the most studied example being chlamydia pecorum infections in the koala, an iconic australian marsupial. in koalas, molecular evidence suggests that spill-over from c. pecorum infected livestock imported into australia may have had a historical or contemporary role. despite preliminary evidence that other native australian marsupials ... | 2017 | 28993660 |
| influence of vitamin d on key bacterial taxa in infant microbiota in the koala birth cohort study. | vitamin d has immunomodulatory properties giving it the potential to affect microbial colonization of the intestinal tract. we investigated whether maternal vitamin d supplemention, maternal plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin d concentration, or direct supplementation of the infant influences key bacterial taxa within microbiota of one month old infants. infant and maternal vitamin d supplement use was ascertained via questionnaires. maternal plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin d was determined at approximately the ... | 2017 | 29121673 |
| long-read genome sequence assembly provides insight into ongoing retroviral invasion of the koala germline. | the koala retrovirus (korv) is implicated in several diseases affecting the koala (phascolarctos cinereus). korv provirus can be present in the genome of koalas as an endogenous retrovirus (present in all cells via germline integration) or as exogenous retrovirus responsible for somatic integrations of proviral korv (present in a limited number of cells). this ongoing invasion of the koala germline by korv provides a powerful opportunity to assess the viral strategies used by korv in an individu ... | 2017 | 29158564 |
| transcriptome sequencing of the long-nosed bandicoot (perameles nasuta) reveals conservation and innovation of immune genes in the marsupial order peramelemorphia. | bandicoots are omnivorous marsupials of the order peramelemorphia. conservation concerns and their unique biological characteristics suggest peramelomorphs are worthy research subjects, but knowledge of their genetics and immunology has lagged behind that of other high-profile marsupials. here, we characterise the transcriptome of the long-nose bandicoot (perameles nasuta), the first high-throughput data set from any peramelomorph. we investigate the immune gene repertoire of the bandicoot, with ... | 2017 | 29159447 |
| composition of marsupial zona pellucida: a molecular and phylogenetic approach. | the zona pellucida (zp) is an extracellular matrix that surrounds mammalian oocytes. in eutherians it is formed from three or four proteins (zp1, zp2, zp3, zp4). in the few marsupials that have been studied, however, only three of these have been characterised (zp2, zp3, zp4). nevertheless, the composition in marsupials may be more complex, since a duplication of the zp3 gene was recently described in one species. the aim of this work was to elucidate the zp composition in marsupials and relate ... | 2017 | 29162213 |
| gene and genome-centric analyses of koala and wombat fecal microbiomes point to metabolic specialization foreucalyptusdigestion. | the koala has evolved to become a specialisteucalyptusherbivore since diverging from its closest relative, the wombat, a generalist herbivore. this niche adaptation involves, in part, changes in the gut microbiota. the goal of this study was to compare koala and wombat fecal microbiomes using metagenomics to identify potential differences attributable to dietary specialization. several populations discriminated between the koala and wombat fecal communities, most notablys24-7andsynergistaceaein ... | 2017 | 29177117 |
| mitochondrial genome sequencing reveals potential origins of the scabies mite sarcoptes scabiei infesting two iconic australian marsupials. | debilitating skin infestations caused by the mite, sarcoptes scabiei, have a profound impact on human and animal health globally. in australia, this impact is evident across different segments of australian society, with a growing recognition that it can contribute to rapid declines of native australian marsupials. cross-host transmission has been suggested to play a significant role in the epidemiology and origin of mite infestations in different species but a chronic lack of genetic resources ... | 2017 | 29183283 |
| transmission, evolution, and endogenization: lessons learned from recent retroviral invasions. | viruses of the subfamilyorthoretrovirinaeare defined by the ability to reverse transcribe an rna genome into dna that integrates into the host cell genome during the intracellular virus life cycle. exogenous retroviruses (xrvs) are horizontally transmitted between host individuals, with disease outcome depending on interactions between the retrovirus and the host organism. when retroviruses infect germ line cells of the host, they may become endogenous retroviruses (ervs), which are permanent el ... | 2018 | 29237726 |
| molecular dynamics and mode of transmission of koala retrovirus (korv) as it invades and spreads through a wild queensland koala population. | the recent acquisition of a novel retrovirus (korv) by koalas (phascolarctos cinereus) has created new opportunities for retroviral research and new challenges for koala conservation. there are currently two major subtypes of korv; korv-a, which is believed to be endogenous only in koalas from the northern part of australia, and korv-b, which appears to be exogenous. understanding and management of these subtypes requires population-level studies of their prevalence and diversity, especially whe ... | 2017 | 29237837 |
| epidemiology of chlamydial infection and disease in a free-ranging koala (phascolarctos cinereus) population. | chlamydial disease continues to be one of the main factors threatening the long-term survival of the koala (phascolarctos cinereus). despite this, large epidemiological studies of chlamydial infection and disease in wild koala populations are lacking. a better understanding of the prevalence, transmission and pathogenesis is needed to improve control measures, such as the development of vaccines. we investigated the prevalence of chlamydia pecorum infection and disease in 160 koalas in a peri-ur ... | 2017 | 29281731 |
| occurrence of pasteurellaceae bacteria in the oral cavity of selected marsupial species. | eighty-two pasteurellaceae isolates from marsupials characterized by phylogenetic analysis of rpob gene sequences formed five distinct groups. twenty-one strains from long-nosed potoroos ( potorous tridactylus apicalis), spotted-tailed quolls ( dasyurus maculatus), and eastern quolls ( dasyurus viverrinus) made up group 1, which classified with frederiksenia canicola. group 2, 15 strains from tasmanian devils ( sarcophilus harrisii), common wombats ( vombatus ursinus), common ring-tailed possums ... | 2017 | 29297829 |
| ultrasonographic assessment of the male koala (phascolarctos cinereus) reproductive tract. | studies documenting the application of ultrasonography to depict normal and pathological changes in koalas (phascolarctos cinereus), especially in the male, are scarce. sixty-two wild koalas were used in this study to define ultrasonographic protocols and features for the assessment of the male koala reproductive tract. testis, epididymis and spermatic cord were examined using a hockey stick transducer. the normal koala testis showed a homogeneous echogenicity and an obvious hyper-echoic band co ... | 2017 | 29306150 |
| characterisation of thein vitro chlamydia pecorumresponse to ifn-γ. | chlamydia pecorumis an important intracellular bacteria that causes a range of diseases in animals, including the native australian marsupial, the koala. in humans and animals, an ifn-γ-mediated immune response is important for the control of intracellular bacteria. the present study tested the hypotheses thatc. pecorumcan escape ifn-γ-mediated depletion of host cell tryptophan pools. in doing so, we demonstrated that, unlikechlamydia trachomatis,c. pecorumis completely resistant to ifn-γ in hum ... | 2018 | 29358337 |
| evolving ecosystems: inheritance and selection in the light of the microbiome. | the importance of microorganisms in human biology is undeniable. the amount of research that supports that microbes have a fundamental role in animal and plant physiology is substantial and increasing every year. even though we are only beginning to comprehend the broadness and complexity of microbial communities, evolutionary theories need to be recast in the light of such discoveries to fully understand and incorporate the role of microbes in our evolution. fundamental evolutionary concepts su ... | 2018 | 29366516 |
| biofilm formation and transcriptome analysis of streptococcus gallolyticus subsp. gallolyticus in response to lysozyme. | streptococcus gallolyticus subsp. gallolyticus is a commensal bacterium of the human gastrointestinal tract, and a pathogen causing infective endocarditis and other biofilm-associated infections via exposed collagen. this study focuses on the characterization of the biofilm formation and collagen adhesion of s. gallolyticus subsp. gallolyticus under different conditions. in this study, it has been observed that the isolate ucn 34 is resistant to 20 mg/ml lysozyme in bhi medium, whereas the strai ... | 2018 | 29373594 |
| koala immunology and infectious diseases: how much can the koala bear? | infectious diseases are contributing to the decline of the iconic australian marsupial, the koala (phascolarctos cinereus). infections with the obligate intracellular bacteria, chlamydia pecorum, cause debilitating ocular and urogenital-tract disease while the koala-retrovirus (korv) has been implicated in host immunosuppression and exacerbation of chlamydial pathogenesis. although histological studies have provided insight into the basic architecture of koala immune tissues, our understanding o ... | 2018 | 29382557 |
| citizen science to communicate about public health messages: the reach of a playful online survey on sitting time and physical activity. | there is a lack of research on how to communicate public health guidelines. citizen science (cs) has been an effective way to involve the public in research. this study analyses the reach of a well-established cs experiment, launched during an annual national science event, to understand if it could be used as communication strategy for public health issues. a short playful online survey contained tailored health-related messages associated to an "animal totem" profile, based on the combination ... | 2018 | 29412005 |
| [phylogenetic diversity and single-cell genome analysis of "melainabacteria", a non-photosynthetic cyanobacterial group, in the termite gut]. | termite guts harbor diverse yet-uncultured bacteria, including a non-photosynthetic cyanobacterial group, the class "melainabacteria". we herein reported the phylogenetic diversity of "melainabacteria" in the guts of diverse termites and conducted a single-cell genome analysis of a melainabacterium obtained from the gut of the termite termes propinquus. we performed amplicon sequencing of 16s rrna genes from the guts of 60 termite and eight cockroach species, and detected melainabacterial sequen ... | 2018 | 29415909 |
| the remarkable vocal anatomy of the koala (phascolarctos cinereus): insights into low-frequency sound production in a marsupial species. | koalas are characterised by a highly unusual vocal anatomy, with a descended larynx and velar vocal folds, allowing them to produce calls at disproportionately low frequencies. here we use advanced imaging techniques, histological data, classical macroscopic dissection and behavioural observations to provide the first detailed description and interpretation of male and female koala vocal anatomy. we show that both males and females have an elongated pharynx and soft palate, resulting in a perman ... | 2018 | 29460389 |
| identification of stable reference genes for quantitative pcr in koalas. | to better understand host and immune response to diseases, gene expression studies require identification of reference genes with stable expression for accurate normalisation. this study describes the identification and testing of reference genes with stable expression profiles in koala lymph node tissues across two genetically distinct koala populations. from the 25 most stable genes identified in transcriptome analysis, 11 genes were selected for verification using reverse transcription quanti ... | 2018 | 29463845 |
| chlamydia pecorum in joint tissue and synovial fluid of a koala ( phascolarctos cinereus) with arthritis. | a small number of koalas ( phascolarctos cinereus) presented to wildlife hospitals in queensland, australia, with signs of arthritis in one or more joints. molecular analysis identified chlamydia pecorum in the tarsal tissue and synovial fluid of an affected joint of a koala, suggesting that in addition to livestock, c. pecorum has the potential to cause arthritis in the koala. | 2018 | 29498899 |
| cryptococcosis in the koala (phascolarctos cinereus): pathogenesis and treatment in the context of two atypical cases. | disseminated cryptococcosis caused by cryptococcus gattii (molecular type vgi) was diagnosed in an adult free-ranging female koala (phascolarctos cinereus). subclinical cryptococcosis was later diagnosed in this koala's joey. in the adult koala, a pathological fracture of the tibia was associated with the bone lysis of marked focal cryptococcal osteomyelitis. limb-sparing orthopedic intervention, in the setting of disseminated cryptococcosis, was judged to have a poor prognosis, and the adult ko ... | 2018 | 29529308 |
| quantitative analysis of the maturation of the main and accessory olfactory systems in monotremes and metatherians in comparison to rodents and humans. | we have used an unbiased statistical approach to compare the pace of development in the main and accessory olfactory systems in monotremes and metatherians with that in rodents and humans. we hypothesized that if metatherians and monotremes, which are born at small body size, use olfaction to locate the pouch and/or teat/milk field, then olfactory structures should reach structural maturity in metatherians and monotremes at a smaller size than eutherians like humans and rodents. the achievement ... | 2018 | 29544028 |
| characterization of shifts of koala (phascolarctos cinereus)intestinal microbial communities associated with antibiotic treatment. | koalas (phascolarctos cinereus) are arboreal marsupials native to australia that eat a specialized diet of almost exclusively eucalyptus leaves. microbes in koala intestines are known to break down otherwise toxic compounds, such as tannins, in eucalyptus leaves. infections bychlamydia, obligate intracellular bacterial pathogens, are highly prevalent in koala populations. if animals withchlamydiainfections are received by wildlife hospitals, a range of antibiotics can be used to treat them. howe ... | 2018 | 29576947 |
| variation in the microbiome of the urogenital tract of chlamydia-free female koalas (phascolarctos cinereus) with and without 'wet bottom'. | koalas (phascolarctos cinereus) are iconic australian marsupials currently threatened by several processes, including infectious diseases and ecological disruption. infection with chlamydia pecorum, is considered a key driver of population decline. the clinical sign of 'wet bottom', a staining of the rump associated with urinary incontinence, is often caused by chlamydial urinary tract infections. however, wet bottom has been recorded in koalas free of c. pecorum, suggesting other causative agen ... | 2018 | 29579080 |
| fresh is best: accurate snp genotyping from koala scats. | maintaining genetic diversity is a crucial component in conserving threatened species. for the iconic australian koala, there is little genetic information on wild populations that is not either skewed by biased sampling methods (e.g., sampling effort skewed toward urban areas) or of limited usefulness due to low numbers of microsatellites used. the ability to genotype dna extracted from koala scats using next-generation sequencing technology will not only help resolve location sample bias but a ... | 2018 | 29607013 |
| molecular evolution of dnmt1 in vertebrates: duplications in marsupials followed by positive selection. | dna methylation is mediated by a conserved family of dna methyltransferases (dnmts). the human genome encodes three active dnmts (dnmt1, dnmt3a and dnmt3b), the trna methyltransferase dnmt2, and the regulatory protein dnmt3l. despite their high degree of conservation among different species, genes encoding dnmts have been duplicated and/or lost in multiple lineages throughout evolution, indicating that the dna methylation machinery has some potential to undergo evolutionary change. however, litt ... | 2018 | 29621315 |
| development and application of two multiplex real-time pcr assays for detection and speciation of bacterial pathogens in the koala. | infectious diseases have contributed to the decline in the health of koala ( phascolarctos cinereus) populations in the wild in some regions of australia. herein we report the development and validation of 2 multiplex real-time pcr (rtpcr) panels for the simultaneous detection of mycoplasma spp., ureaplasma spp., bordetella bronchiseptica, and chlamydia, including speciation and quantification of chlamydia, in ocular, reproductive, and nasal swab samples in addition to semen and male urogenital ... | 2018 | 29629645 |
| necropsy findings of koalas from the mount lofty ranges population in south australia. | this study reports necropsy findings of koalas from the mount lofty ranges region in order to identify health threats to this mainland south australian population. | 2018 | 29691854 |
| prevalence of chlamydia pecorum in juvenile koalas ( phascolarctos cinereus) and evidence for protection from infection via maternal immunization. | chlamydia pecorum in koalas ( phascolarctos cinereus) is considered a sexually transmitted infection. analysis of samples from koala joeys (<1 yr) suggested that mother-to-young direct transmission was also occurring. further, evidence suggested that joeys from vaccinated mothers were less likely to contract infections than joeys with unvaccinated mothers. | 2018 | 29733767 |
| the relative contribution of causal factors in the transition from infection to clinical chlamydial disease. | chlamydia is a major bacterial pathogen in humans and animals globally. yet 80% of infections never progress to clinical disease. decades of research have generated an interconnected network linking pathogen, host, and environmental factors to disease expression, but the relative importance of these and whether they account for disease progression remains unknown. to address this, we used structural equation modeling to evaluate putative factors likely to contribute to urogenital and ocular chla ... | 2018 | 29891934 |
| skin structure in newborn marsupials with focus on cutaneous gas exchange. | a morphological and morphometric study of the skin of a variety of newborn marsupials (dasyurus viverrinus, monodelphis domestica, trichosurus vulpecula, isoodon obesulus, perameles nasuta, phascolarctos cinereus, potorous tridactylus, petrogale penicillata, thylogale thetidi, macropus dorsalis) and of a monotreme hatchling (ornithorhynchus anatinus) was undertaken to assess the possibility of cutaneous gas exchange. additionally, the lungs of some of these species were investigated to assess it ... | 2018 | 29947022 |
| trace element contaminant uptake in phytocap vegetation and implications for koala habitat, lismore, australia. | phytocapping is increasingly regarded as an economical and environmentally sustainable post-closure landfill management strategy. during 2013, a phytocap comprised of koala habitat trees was established on a historic landfill site in lismore as part of an australian trial program (a-acap). this case study was conducted to determine trace element contamination of the lismore phytocap soil and foliage, and identify risks to grazing koalas. foliage of eucalyptus tereticornis, a key koala food tree, ... | 2018 | 29948710 |
| vaccination of koalas (phascolarctos cinereus) against chlamydia pecorum using synthetic peptides derived from the major outer membrane protein. | chlamydia pecorum is a mucosal infection, which causes debilitating disease of the urinary tract, reproductive tract and ocular sites of koalas (phascolarctos cinereus). while antibiotics are available for treatment, they are detrimental to the koalas' gastrointestinal tract microflora leaving the implementation of a vaccine as an ideal option for the long-term management of koala populations. we have previously reported on the successes of an anti-chlamydial recombinant major outer membrane pro ... | 2018 | 29953523 |
| adaptation and conservation insights from the koala genome. | the koala, the only extant species of the marsupial family phascolarctidae, is classified as 'vulnerable' due to habitat loss and widespread disease. we sequenced the koala genome, producing a complete and contiguous marsupial reference genome, including centromeres. we reveal that the koala's ability to detoxify eucalypt foliage may be due to expansions within a cytochrome p450 gene family, and its ability to smell, taste and moderate ingestion of plant secondary metabolites may be due to expan ... | 2018 | 29967444 |
| koala genome reveals secrets to surviving a deadly diet. | 2018 | 29991779 | |
| chronic excess fluoride uptake contributes to degenerative joint disease (djd): evidence from six marsupial species. | one of the manifestations of chronic fluoride toxicosis in mammals is skeletal fluorosis, which can include lesions of degenerative joint disease (djd). although djd lesions have been less commonly studied than bone or dental lesions in relation to the pathology and epidemiology of fluoride toxicosis, there have been multiple independent studies in various species that have concluded that there appears to be an effect. the mechanisms by which fluoride affects the joints are not clear, but our da ... | 2018 | 30015183 |
| passive acoustic surveys for predicting species' distributions: optimising detection probability. | surveying terrestrial species across diverse habitats is important for predicting species' distributions and implementing conservation actions. for vocalising species, passive acoustic monitoring (pam) is increasing in popularity; however, survey design rarely considers the factors influencing the timing and occurrence of vocalisations and in turn, how they may influence detectability of the species. here, we use the koala (phascolarctos cinereus) as a case study to show how pam can be used to f ... | 2018 | 30020938 |
| koala genome insights. | 2018 | 30042480 |