Publications
| Title | Abstract | Year(sorted ascending) Filter | PMID Filter |
|---|
| family-level relationships among the australasian marsupial "herbivores" (diprotodontia: koala, wombats, kangaroos and possums). | the marsupial order diprotodontia includes 10 extant families, which occupy all terrestrial habitats across australia and new guinea and have evolved remarkable dietary and locomotory diversity. despite considerable attention, the interrelations of these families have for the most part remained elusive. in this study, we separately model mitochondrial rna and protein-coding sequences in addition to nuclear protein-coding sequences to provide near-complete resolution of diprotodontian family-leve ... | 2008 | 17959392 |
| detection of a spotted fever group rickettsia in the tick ixodes tasmani collected from koalas in port macquarie, australia. | four species of rickettsia are recognized as endemic to australia. this study reports the detection of a new spotted fever group rickettsia in the common marsupial tick ixodes tasmani neumann collected from koalas (phascolarctos cinereus) in port macquarie, nsw, australia. based on the results of polymerase chain reaction (pcr) amplification of extracted tick dna with primers targeting the citrate synthase gene (glta) and the outer membrane proteins a and b (ompa. ompb), rickettsiae were detecte ... | 2008 | 18714878 |
| hip dysplasia in koalas (phascolarctos cinereus) at the san diego zoo. | a retrospective/prospective radiographic study documented 55 cases of moderate to severe hip dysplasia, with varying degrees of shallowing of the acetabulum, flattening or loss of the femoral head, widening or loss of the femoral neck, and femoral diaphyseal abnormalities in northern koalas (phascolarctos cinereus) in the san diego zoo (san diego, california, usa) collection. for the retrospective study, historic radiographs were examined when availble. for the prospective study, three standard ... | 2008 | 18432097 |
| asthmatic symptoms, physical activity, and overweight in young children: a cohort study. | prevalence of asthma and overweight has increased simultaneously during the past decades. several studies have reported an association between these two health problems, but it is unclear whether this relation is causal. we hypothesize that children with asthmatic symptoms are less physically active, which may contribute to the development of overweight. | 2008 | 18310186 |
| successful artificial insemination in the koala (phascolarctos cinereus) using extended and extended-chilled semen collected by electroejaculation. | artificial insemination in the koala using chilled, electroejaculated semen provides for a marked improvement in the reproductive and genetic management of captive koala colonies in australia and internationally, and makes available the option of using semen collected from wild populations to expand restricted gene pools. dilution of koala semen for artificial insemination is complicated because koalas are induced ovulators, and it is thought that ovulating factors are present in the semen, so t ... | 2008 | 18094357 |
| consumption of organic foods and risk of atopic disease during the first 2 years of life in the netherlands. | we prospectively investigated whether organic food consumption by infants was associated with developing atopic manifestations in the first 2 years of life. the koala birth cohort study in the netherlands (n 2764) measured organic food consumption, eczema and wheeze in infants until age 2 years using repeated questionnaires. diet was defined as conventional ( 90 % organic). venous blood samples taken from 815 infants at 2 years of age were analysed for total and specific ige. multivariate logist ... | 2008 | 17761012 |
| dimethylacetamide can be used as an alternative to glycerol for the successful cryopreservation of koala (phascolarctos cinereus) spermatozoa. | swelling of koala sperm chromatin following cryopreservation has largely been attributed to the absence of intermolecular disulfide cross-linkages in the marsupial sperm nucleus. fish spermatozoa also lack disulfide bonds within their chromatin, but have been successfully cryopreserved. the present study examined the hypothesis that the cryoprotectants used for fish sperm cryopreservation would confer a similar degree of protection on koala spermatozoa. three concentrations each of five cryoprot ... | 2008 | 18671920 |
| control of the koala (phascolarctos cinereus) anterior pituitary-gonadal axis with analogues of gnrh. | the aim of the present study was to determine whether analogues of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (gnrh) could be used to both induce an acute testosterone response and suppress anterior pituitary function in male koalas, and induce a luteal phase in female koalas. experiment 1 characterised the steroidogenic response of male koalas to administration of 30 microg (4.3 microg kg(-1)) natural-sequence gnrh. intra-muscular injection of natural-sequence gnrh induced the release of lh and testostero ... | 2008 | 18577357 |
| field testing of lake water chemistry with a portable and an auv-based mass spectrometer. | two mass spectrometers (ms) are tested for the measurement of volatile substances, such as hydrocarbons and metabolic gases, in natural waters. koala is a backpackable ms operated from above the water surface, in which samples are pumped through a flow cell using a syringe. nereus is an underwater instrument hosted by an autonomous underwater vehicle (auv) that is linked to a communications network to provide chemical data in real time. the mass analyzers of the two ms are nearly identical cyclo ... | 2008 | 18468452 |
| the health of australia's koalas: more research is needed urgently. | 2008 | 3200191 | |
| histopathological examination of the pancreas of the koala (phascolarctos cinereus). | this retrospective study, which was based on koala pancreatic specimens taken 2, 24, 48 and 72h after death, showed that the degree of autolysis did not necessarily exclude histopathological examination. disorders not previously reported in the pancreas of koalas included the following: inflammation and necrosis; atrophy and fibrosis of exocrine pancreatic tissue; lymphosarcoma; pancreatic heterotopy; and ductal adenocarcinoma. | 2009 | 19303079 |
| a phylogeny of diprotodontia (marsupialia) based on sequences for five nuclear genes. | even though the marsupial order diprotodontia is one of the most heavily studied groups of australasian marsupials, phylogenetic relationships within this group remain contentious. the more than 125 living species of diprotodontia can be divided into two main groups: vombatiformes (wombats and koalas) and phalangerida. phalangerida is composed of the kangaroos (macropodidae, potoroidae, and hypsiprymnodontidae) and possums (phalangeridae, burramyidae, petauridae, pseudocheiridae, tarsipedidae, a ... | 2009 | 19249373 |
| barriers to the management of obesity in children - a cross sectional survey of gps. | general practitioners have been identified as having a key role in promoting healthy weight. in 2006, the south east alliance of general practice - brisbane (ltd) was approached by the mater children's hospital to participate in the koala (kinder overweight activity lifestyle actions) at mater healthy lifestyle study. between june 2007 and january 2008, only 14 eligible children were identified and referred to the koala study by participating gps - a much lower referral rate than the study requi ... | 2009 | 19530380 |
| lamination of the masticatory muscles in the phascolarctos cinereus (koala) according to their innervations. | the masticatory muscles are usually classified into four groups: masseter, temporalis, lateral pterygoid and medial pterygoid. the communicating muscle bundle between the temporalis and masseter called the zygomaticomandibular muscle exists. the laminations within these muscles are commonly separated by aponeuroses. nerves control the action of muscles, so improved understanding about innervation patterns in the masticatory muscles is important in the consideration of muscle function. in this st ... | 2009 | 19522301 |
| fungi from koala (phascolarctos cinereus) faeces exhibit a broad range of enzyme activities against recalcitrant substrates. | identification of fungi isolated from koala faeces and screening for their enzyme activities of biotechnological interest. | 2009 | 19141036 |
| diet-related restrictive parenting practices. impact on dietary intake of 2-year-old children and interactions with child characteristics. | this study examined the relationship between diet-related parenting practices, parental characteristics, child characteristics, and 2-year-old child's dietary intake. cross-sectional data (n=2578) originated from the koala birth cohort study. principal component analyses revealed two restrictive parenting practice clusters: a cluster characterized by prohibition of the intake of various snacks and soft drinks, and a separate cluster characterized by prohibition of cookies and cake. regression an ... | 2009 | 19114065 |
| effects of indoor air purification by an air cleaning system (koala technology) on semen parameters in male factor infertility: results of a pilot study. | a number of studies indicated a clear decline in semen quality in the past 30-50 years and there is accumulating evidence that this decline might result from exposure to high levels of air pollution. to examine the impact of environment on male reproductive ability, we undertook for the first time a pilot study on semen quality of infertile men exposed to purification of indoor air. ten subjects with a history of unexplained male infertility and poor semen quality were exposed for at least 1 yea ... | 2009 | 19400850 |
| clustering of dietary intake and sedentary behavior in 2-year-old children. | to examine clustering of energy balance-related behaviors (ebrbs) in young children. this is crucial because lifestyle habits are formed at an early age and track in later life. this study is the first to examine ebrb clustering in children as young as 2 years. | 2009 | 19394036 |
| shoulder dysplasia in koalas (phascolarctos cinereus) at san diego zoo. | a radiographic study documented shoulder dysplasia (n = 43), with varying degrees of malformation of the supraglenoid and infraglenoid tubercles and the coracoid process, shallowing or loss of the glenoid cavity, flattening or loss of the humeral head, malformation of the greater and lesser tubercles, loss of the intertubercle groove, and humeral diaphyseal abnormalities, in northern koalas (phascolarctos cinereus) in the san diego zoo (san diego, california, usa) colony. retrospectively, histor ... | 2009 | 19746859 |
| late onset cerebellar cortical degeneration in a koala. | a 10-year-old male koala started to fall from the tree while sleeping. subsequently, the koala often fell down while walking and showed a gait abnormality, abnormal nystagmus and hypersalivation. at 12 years of age, the koala became ataxic and seemed blind. at 13 years of age, the koala exhibited signs of dysstasia and was euthanased. necropsy revealed marked symmetrical atrophy of the cerebellum. histopathologically, a severe loss of purkinje and granule cells was evident in the cerebellum, whi ... | 2009 | 19673852 |
| noninvasive monitoring of reproductive activity based on fecal progestagen profiles and sexual behavior in koalas, phascolarctos cinereus. | studies on the reproductive endocrinology of koalas have been performed mainly by using blood samples; however, in practice it is difficult to collect blood periodically because koalas are easily stressed. the purposes of the present study were to establish a noninvasive endocrine monitoring technique and to investigate the reproductive physiology of female koalas. feces were collected from female northern and southern koalas, and progestagen was extracted from lyophilized fecal samples and dete ... | 2009 | 19587334 |
| evidence that single-stranded dna breaks are a normal feature of koala sperm chromatin, while double-stranded dna breaks are indicative of dna damage. | in this study, we have used single and double comet assays to differentiate between single- and double-stranded dna damage in an effort to refine the interpretation of dna damage in mature koala spermatozoa. we have also investigated the likelihood that single-stranded dna breakage is part of the natural spermiogenic process in koalas, where its function would be the generation of structural bends in the dna molecule so that appropriate packaging and compaction can occur. koala spermatozoa were ... | 2009 | 19494045 |
| individual variability in post-thaw sperm survival in a captive koala population. | this study documented the extent of individual animal variation with respect to two proven methods of sperm cryopreservation in a captive population of 22 koalas. semen samples were collected by electroejaculation, diluted in tris-citrate glucose and equilibrated to 4 degrees c before being further diluted and frozen in media containing a final concentration of either 14% (v/v) glycerol or 12.5% (v/v) dimethylacetamide (dma). there were significant differences in post-thaw survival of spermatozo ... | 2009 | 19426724 |
| artificial insemination in marsupials. | assisted breeding technology (art), including artificial insemination (ai), has the potential to advance the conservation and welfare of marsupials. many of the challenges facing ai and art for marsupials are shared with other wild species. however, the marsupial mode of reproduction and development also poses unique challenges and opportunities. for the vast majority of marsupials, there is a dearth of knowledge regarding basic reproductive biology to guide an ai strategy. for threatened or end ... | 2009 | 18950846 |
| ompa and antigenic diversity of bovine chlamydophila pecorum strains. | infections with the intracellular bacterium chlamydophila (c.) pecorum are highly prevalent worldwide in cattle. these infections cause significant diseases such as polyarthritis, pneumonia, enteritis, genital infections and fertility disorders, and occasionally sporadic bovine encephalomyelitis. subclinical respiratory infections of calves with c. pecorum have been associated with airway obstruction, pulmonary inflammation, and reduced weight gains. this investigation examined four chlamydial s ... | 2009 | 18930605 |
| bartonella-like dna detected in ixodes tasmani ticks (acari: ixodida) infesting koalas (phascolarctos cinereus) in victoria, australia. | a total of 42 ticks comprising ixodes tasmani (n = 41) and ixodes trichosuri (n = 1) were collected from wild koalas (phascolarctos cinereus) at the koala convention centre, philip island, victoria, australia and screened for the presence of bartonella using the target gene glta. bartonella-like dna was detected in 4 of the 19 pooled tick samples (21%). all positive ticks were male. analysis of partial sequences for the glta gene indicated the presence of a bartonella-related species similar to ... | 2009 | 19271994 |
| molecular detection of rickettsia, coxiella and rickettsiella dna in three native australian tick species. | three australian native animal species yielded 60 samples composed of three indigenous ticks. hosts included twelve koalas, two echidnas and one wombat from victoria, and ticks were of the species ixodes tasmani (n = 42), bothriocroton concolor (n = 8) and b. auruginans (n = 10), respectively. pcr screening and sequencing detected a species of coxiella, sharing closest sequence identity to c. burnetii (>98%), in all b. auruginans, as well as a species of rickettsia, matching closest to r. massil ... | 2009 | 19296229 |
| cloning and expression of koala (phascolarctos cinereus) liver cytochrome p450 reductase. | the cloning, expression and characterization of hepatic nadph-cytochrome p450 reductase (cpr) from koala (phascolarctos cinereus) is described. two 2059 bp koala liver cpr cdnas, designated cpr1 and cpr2, were cloned by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and rapid amplification of cdna ends. the koala cpr cdnas encode proteins of 678 amino acids and share 85% amino acid sequence identity to human cpr. transfection of the koala cpr cdnas into cos-7 cells resulted in the expression of ... | 2009 | 19444989 |
| trypanosoma irwini n. sp (sarcomastigophora: trypanosomatidae) from the koala ( phascolarctos cinereus). | the morphology and genetic characterization of a new species of trypanosome infecting koalas (phascolarctos cinereus) are described. morphological analysis of bloodstream forms and phylogenetic analysis at the 18s rdna and ggapdh loci demonstrated this trypanosome species to be genetically distinct and most similar to trypanosoma bennetti, an avian trypanosome with a genetic distance of 0.9% at the 18s rdna and 10.7% at the ggapdh locus. the trypanosome was detected by 18s rdna pcr in the blood ... | 2009 | 19570316 |
| characterization of chlamydiaceae species using pcr and high resolution melt curve analysis of the 16s rrna gene. | to design a rapid diagnostic test to differentiate species belonging to the family chlamydiaceae. | 2009 | 19583801 |
| the immune response and fertility of koalas (phascolarctos cinereus) immunised with porcine zonae pellucidae or recombinant brushtail possum zp3 protein. | to evaluate the potential contraceptive effect of immunisation with zona pellucida antigens, 50 free-ranging koalas were immunised with either porcine zonae pellucidae (pzp), recombinant brushtail possum zp3 (recbp-zp3) or buffer, in complete freund's adjuvant. a single booster immunisation in incomplete freund's adjuvant was administered 3-5 months later. where possible animals were recaptured, reproductive status was assessed and blood was collected at 1-3-month intervals for the next 33 month ... | 2009 | 19709753 |
| evidence that human chlamydia pneumoniae was zoonotically acquired. | zoonotic infections are a growing threat to global health. chlamydia pneumoniae is a major human pathogen that is widespread in human populations, causing acute respiratory disease, and has been associated with chronic disease. c. pneumoniae was first identified solely in human populations; however, its host range now includes other mammals, marsupials, amphibians, and reptiles. australian koalas (phascolarctos cinereus) are widely infected with two species of chlamydia, c. pecorum and c. pneumo ... | 2009 | 19749045 |
| characterization of the chromosomal inversion associated with the koa mutation in the mouse revealed the cause of skeletal abnormalities. | koala (koa) is a dominant mutation in mice causing bushy muzzle and pinna, and is associated with a chromosomal inversion on the distal half of chromosome 15. to identify the gene responsible for the koa phenotypes, we investigated phenotypes of koa homozygous mice and determined the breakpoints of the inversion with a genetic method using recombination between two different chromosomal inversions. | 2009 | 19772620 |
| histological structure and distribution of carbonic anhydrase isozymes (ca-i, ii, iii and vi) in major salivary glands in koalas. | while the mandibular glands usually consist of only mucous acinar cells or a combination of mucous and serous cells in other species of mammals, those of koalas were serous glands. rabbit mono-specific polyclonal anti-canine ca-i, ii, iii or vi antiserum showed cross-reactivity against corresponding koala carbonic anhydrase (ca) isozymes. although immunohistochemical reactions to ca-i, ii and vi in ductal cells were moderate to strong in the tested salivary glands, no reaction or only slight rea ... | 2009 | 19793089 |
| ecg response of koalas to tourists proximity: a preliminary study. | koalas operate on a tight energy budget and, thus, may not always display behavioral avoidance reaction when placed in a stressful condition. we investigated the physiological response of captive koalas phascolarctos cinereus in a conservation centre to the presence of tourists walking through their habitat. we compared, using animal-attached data-recorders, the electrocardiogram activity of female koalas in contact with tourists and in a human-free area. one of the koalas in the tourist zone pr ... | 2009 | 19823679 |
| in vitro characterisation of koala chlamydia pneumoniae: morphology, inclusion development and doubling time. | chlamydia pneumoniae is a common human and animal pathogen associated with upper and lower respiratory tract infections. of the animal c. pneumoniae isolates, the koala nasal isolate (lpcoln) is by far the best genetically characterised. this current study was designed to characterise the morphology and developmental events for the lpcoln isolate, and our results showed several striking in vitro growth differences when compared to the human isolate, ar39. the lpcoln inclusion size and morphology ... | 2009 | 19026498 |
| early-life rotavirus and norovirus infections in relation to development of atopic manifestation in infants. | the increase in incidence of atopic diseases (ads) in the developed world over the past decades has been associated with reduced exposure of childhood infections. | 2009 | 19032360 |
| variants of the fads1 fads2 gene cluster, blood levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids and eczema in children within the first 2 years of life. | association of genetic-variants in the fads1-fads2-gene-cluster with fatty-acid-composition in blood of adult-populations is well established. we analyze this genetic-association in two children-cohort-studies. in addition, the association between variants in the fads-gene-cluster and blood-fatty-acid-composition with eczema was studied. | 2010 | 20948998 |
| candidatus bartonella antechini: a novel bartonella species detected in fleas and ticks from the yellow-footed antechinus (antechinus flavipes), an australian marsupial. | bartonella are fastidious, gram-negative, aerobic bacilli belonging to the alphaproteobacteria group. in the last ten years, the discovery of new bartonella species from a variety of mammalian hosts, arthropod vectors and geographical areas has increased. more than 20 species of bartonella have been identified, of which approximately thirteen are associated with disease in humans and animals. recently, four novel species of bartonella were isolated from mammalian hosts in australia: bartonella a ... | 2010 | 21215534 |
| recombinant 35-kda inclusion membrane protein inca as a candidate antigen for serodiagnosis of chlamydophila pecorum. | chlamydophila pecorum strains are commonly found in the intestine and vaginal mucus of asymptomatic ruminants and may therefore induce a positive serological response when the animals are tested for c. abortus. they have also been associated with different pathological diseases in ruminants, swine and koala. the aim of this study was to identify specific c. pecorum immunodominant antigens which could be used in elisa tests allowing to distinguish between animals infected with c. pecorum and thos ... | 2010 | 19969431 |
| recent advances in the understanding of chlamydophila pecorum infections, sixteen years after it was named as the fourth species of the chlamydiaceae family. | chlamydophila pecorum found in the intestine and vaginal mucus of asymptomatic ruminants has also been associated with different pathological conditions in ruminants, swine and koalas. some endangered species such as water buffalos and bandicoots have also been found to be infected by c. pecorum. the persistence of c. pecorum strains in the intestine and vaginal mucus of ruminants could cause long-term sub-clinical infection affecting the animal's health. c. pecorum strains present many genetic ... | 2010 | 19995513 |
| x-chromosome forkhead box p3 polymorphisms associate with atopy in girls in three dutch birth cohorts. | the forkhead box p3 (foxp3) gene, located on the x-chromosome, encodes a transcription factor that directs t cells toward a regulatory phenotype. regulatory t cells may suppress development of atopy. we evaluated whether single-nucleotide polymorphisms (snps) of foxp3 are associated with atopy development in childhood. | 2010 | 20028375 |
| characterization of multidrug-resistant escherichia coli isolated from extraintestinal clinical infections in animals. | multidrug-resistant (mdr) escherichia coli causes extraintestinal infections in both humans and animals. this study aimed to determine whether mdr e. coli isolates cultured from extraintestinal infections in several animal species were clonal and crossed host-species boundaries, as suggested by initial characterization of a subset of canine and human isolates, or whether they represented a diverse group of host-specific strains. isolates were obtained either from the university of queensland vet ... | 2010 | 20093377 |
| host-microbial interactions in childhood atopy: toll-like receptor 4 (tlr4), cd14, and fecal escherichia coli. | perturbations in the gut microbiota have been linked to atopic diseases. however, the development of atopic diseases depends not only on environmental factors (like microbial stimulation) but also on genetic factors. it is likely that particularly gene-environmental interactions in early life determine the development of atopy. | 2010 | 20109750 |
| assessment of the hemorheological profile of koala and echidna. | koala, a marsupial, and echidna, a monotreme, are mammals native to australia. blood viscosity (62.5-1250s(-1)), red blood cell (rbc) deformability, rbc aggregation, aggregability and surface charge, and hematological parameters were measured in blood samples from six koalas and six echidnas and compared to adult human blood. koala had the largest rbc mean cell volume (107.7+/-2.6fl) compared to echidna (81.3+/-2.6fl) and humans (88.4+/-1.2fl). echidna blood exhibited the highest viscosity over ... | 2010 | 20138490 |
| trans fatty acids in human milk are an indicator of different maternal dietary sources containing trans fatty acids. | the trans fatty acid (tfa) patterns in the fats of ruminant meat and dairy products differ from those found in other (processed) fats. we have evaluated different tfa isomers in human breast milk as an indicator of dietary intake of ruminant and dairy fats of different origins. breast milk samples were collected 1 month postpartum from 310 mothers participating in the koala birth cohort study (the netherlands). the study participants had different lifestyles and consumed different amounts of dai ... | 2010 | 20148367 |
| the interfacial viscoelastic properties and structures of human and animal meibomian lipids. | as the interface between the aqueous layer of the tear film and air, the lipid layer plays a large role in maintaining tear film stability. meibomian lipids are the primary component of the lipid layer; therefore the physical properties of these materials may be particularly crucial to the functionality of the tear film. surface pressure versus area isotherms, interfacial shear and extensional rheology, and brewster angle microscopy (bam) were used to characterize the meibomian lipids from diffe ... | 2010 | 20156438 |
| immunoproteomic approach to elucidating the pathogenesis of cryptococcosis caused by cryptococcus gattii. | cryptococcosis caused by cryptococcus gattii is a devastating disease of immunocompetent hosts with an incompletely understood pathogenesis. utilizing an immunoproteomic approach in a naturally occurring koala model of disease, a number of key proteins and pathways are identified in the early and late pathogenesis of cryptococcosis for the first time. in particular, the thioredoxin system appears important in the pathogenesis of cryptococcosis caused by c. gattii vgii. | 2010 | 20545298 |
| comparison of koala lpcoln and human strains of chlamydia pneumoniae highlights extended genetic diversity in the species. | chlamydia pneumoniae is a widespread pathogen causing upper and lower respiratory tract infections in addition to a range of other diseases in humans and animals. previous whole genome analyses have focused on four essentially clonal (> 99% identity) c. pneumoniae human genomes (ar39, cwl029, j138 and tw183), providing relatively little insight into strain diversity and evolution of this species. | 2010 | 20646324 |
| fads1 fads2 gene variants modify the association between fish intake and the docosahexaenoic acid proportions in human milk. | the genes encoding delta(5)- and delta(6)-desaturases (fads1 fads2 gene cluster) were reported to be associated with n-3 (omega-3) and n-6 (omega-6) fatty acid proportions in human plasma, tissues, and milk. docosahexaenoic acid (dha) can be supplied especially by dietary fish or fish oil and synthesized from alpha-linolenic acid through a pathway involving these desaturases. | 2010 | 20335541 |
| a multi-subunit chlamydial vaccine induces antibody and cell-mediated immunity in immunized koalas (phascolarctos cinereus): comparison of three different adjuvants. | chlamydial infections represent a major threat to the survival of the koala. infections caused by chlamydia pecorum cause blindness, infertility, pneumonia and urinary tract infections and represent a threat to the survival of the species. little is known about the immune response in koalas, or the safety of commonly used adjuvants for induction of protective systemic and mucosal immunity. | 2010 | 20064144 |
| cd14 polymorphisms in mother and infant, soluble cd14 in breast milk and atopy development in the infant (koala study). | different cd14 polymorphisms have been associated with atopic phenotypes in infants. in addition, cd14 genotypes of breastfeeding mothers have been associated with soluble cd14 (scd14) levels in breast milk. the role of cd14 genotypes of infant and mother and their interaction with scd14 levels in breast milk in atopy development remain to be established. we aimed to study the associations of cd14 single nucleotide polymorphisms (snps), and their interaction with breast milk scd14, with atopy de ... | 2010 | 19761511 |
| intestinal lactobacilli and the dc-sign gene for their recognition by dendritic cells play a role in the aetiology of allergic manifestations. | diminished exposure to harmless micro-organisms, such as lactobacilli, has been suggested to play a role in the increased prevalence of allergic disorders in westernized communities. the development of allergies depends on both environmental factors and genetic variations, including polymorphisms in genes encoding pattern recognition receptors. the present study examines the effects of both colonization with specific lactobacillus species and genetic variations in dc-sign, a pattern recognition ... | 2010 | 20829290 |
| palatability mapping: a koala's eye view of spatial variation in habitat quality. | ecologists trying to understand the value of habitat to animals must first describe the value of resources contained in the habitat to animals and, second, they must describe spatial variation in resource quality at a resolution relevant to individual animal foraging. we addressed these issues in a study of koalas (phascolarctos cinereus) in a eucalyptus woodland. we measured beneficial and deterrent chemical characteristics as well as the palatability of trees using a near-infrared spectroscopi ... | 2010 | 21141178 |
| timing of infection and development of wheeze, eczema, and atopic sensitization during the first 2 yr of life: the koala birth cohort study. | to investigate if infections in pregnancy and very early in life present a risk for wheezing, eczema, or atopic sensitization in later infancy. a total of 2319 children enrolled before birth in the koala birth cohort study were followed during their first 2 yr of life using repeated questionnaires. information was obtained on common colds, fever, and diarrhea with fever as well as on wheeze and eczema at ages 3 and 7 months and 1 and 2 yr, respectively. blood samples were collected from 786 chil ... | 2010 | 20718929 |
| interaction of t-cell and antigen presenting cell co-stimulatory genes in childhood ige. | it is likely that multiple genes contribute to immunoglobulin (ig)e production. co-stimulatory molecules are crucial for the cross-talk between antigen presenting cells and t-lymphocytes which drives the ige response. we evaluated gene-gene interactions of haplotype tagging polymorphisms in a pathway of 24 co-stimulatory genes in relation to serum ige levels. we assessed this at ages 1-2 yrs and 6-8 yrs in 3,062 dutch children from a pooled data set of three birth cohorts: piama (prevention and ... | 2010 | 19574333 |
| absorption of enrofloxacin and marbofloxacin after oral and subcutaneous administration in diseased koalas (phascolarctos cinereus). | koalas (n = 43) were treated daily for up to 8 weeks with enrofloxacin: 10 mg/kg subcutaneously (s.c.), 5 mg/kg s.c., or 20 mg/kg per os (p.o.); or marbofloxacin: 1.0-3.3 mg/kg p.o., 10 mg/kg p.o. or 5 mg/kg s.c. serial plasma drug concentrations were determined on day 1 and again at approximately 2 weeks, by liquid chromatography. the median (range) plasma maximum concentrations (c(max) ) for enrofloxacin 5 mg/kg s.c. and 10 mg/kg s.c. were 0.83 (0.68-1.52) and 2.08 (1.34-2.96) μg/ml and the me ... | 2010 | 21062313 |
| seasonal reproduction in wild and captive male koala (phascolarctos cinereus) populations in south-east queensland. | the effects of breeding season (late spring to early autumn) on south-east queensland male koala fertility were examined to improve the efficacy of the ai procedure and to determine the practicality of using free-range animals as semen donors for a genome resource bank. seasonal changes in male koala reproductive function were assessed in a wild free-range population (n = 14; obtained every 6 weeks from january to november 2005), a necropsied healthy wild population (n = 84; obtained monthly fro ... | 2010 | 20353729 |
| masticatory motor pattern in the koala (phascolarctos cinereus): a comparison of jaw movements in marsupial and placental herbivores. | do closely related marsupial herbivores (diprotodontia) conserve a common masticatory motor pattern or are motor patterns linked to the structure and function of the masticatory apparatus? we recorded the sequence and duration of activity of the individual jaw closing muscles during rhythmic chewing in koalas and then compared their motor pattern with that of their closest extant relatives, wombats, and their more distant marsupial relatives, macropodoids. these three lineages prove to have fund ... | 2010 | 20683866 |
| the "koala stress syndrome" and adrenal responsiveness in the critically ill. | 2010 | 20665003 | |
| microscopy of the koala mandibular (submandibular) glands. | koala mandibular (submandibular) glands are compound tubuloacinar glands, the secretory units of which consist only of serous cells. intercellular canaliculi occur between the serous cells, which are continuous with a minute lumen that courses through the centre of each secretory unit. intercalated ducts are abundant and join striated ducts, the latter being characterized by elaborate basolateral infoldings of the plasmalemma. secretory granules within the serous cells fail to stain with either ... | 2010 | 20645955 |
| levonorgestrel, not etonogestrel, provides contraception in free-ranging koalas. | management of high-density koala (phascolarctos cinereus) populations is essential because of the browsing damage they inflict on their habitat. we have tested two types of gestagen implant, namely levonorgestrel and etonogestrel, as contraceptives for koalas. free-ranging female koalas were given either a control, levonorgestrel (70 mg) or etonogestrel (34 or 68 mg) implant before the breeding season. koalas were monitored every 4-12 weeks for births. plasma progesterone was measured and a cyto ... | 2010 | 20591325 |
| an odontometric study of the maxillary molars in australian marsupials. i. the koala (phascolarctos cinereus). | crown dimensions of the maxillary molars were measured in the koala (phascolarctos cinereus). there were no significant differences in crown diameters between the first and second molars, however the fourth molars were reduced in all crown diameters. the third molar was smaller than the first or second molars in buccolingual crown diameters but there were no significant differences in mesiodistal crown diameters. it is proposed that the similar shapes of the first and second molars are associate ... | 2010 | 20560450 |
| society for integrative and comparative biology, 3-7 january 2010, seattle, washington. koalas calling. | 2010 | 20150464 | |
| child-care use and the association with body mass index and overweight in children from 7 months to 2 years of age. | studies regarding the association of child-care use with body mass index (bmi), overweight or obesity development show contradictory results. this study examined the relationship between child-care use and bmi z-scores and overweight, as well as associates of child-care use in children up to 2 years old. | 2010 | 20498654 |
| tlr-related pathway analysis: novel gene-gene interactions in the development of asthma and atopy. | the toll-like receptor (tlr)-related pathway is important in host defence and may be crucial in the development of asthma and atopy. numerous studies have shown associations of tlr-related pathway genes with asthma and atopy phenotypes. so far it has not been investigated whether gene-gene interactions in this pathway contribute to atopy and asthma development. | 2010 | 19968634 |
| cues to body size in the formant spacing of male koala (phascolarctos cinereus) bellows: honesty in an exaggerated trait. | determining the information content of vocal signals and understanding morphological modifications of vocal anatomy are key steps towards revealing the selection pressures acting on a given species' vocal communication system. here, we used a combination of acoustic and anatomical data to investigate whether male koala bellows provide reliable information on the caller's body size, and to confirm whether male koalas have a permanently descended larynx. our results indicate that the spectral prom ... | 2011 | 21957105 |
| schirmer tear tests and intraocular pressures in conscious and anesthetized koalas (phascolarctus cinereus). | to estimate mean schirmer tear test (stt) and intraocular pressure (iop) values in healthy koalas both conscious and anesthetized. | 2011 | 21929605 |
| masticatory motor programs in australian herbivorous mammals: diprotodontia. | movement of the jaw during molar occlusion is determined by the sequence of activity in the adductor muscles and this sequence is one way to define a masticatory motor program. based on the similarity of molar structure, it is probable that the american opossum and the early tertiary mammals that gave rise to all australian marsupials probably shared a common "primitive" masticatory motor program. the distinct and various patterns of movement of the jaw in the major groups of australian marsupia ... | 2011 | 21700567 |
| folic acid use in pregnancy and the development of atopy, asthma, and lung function in childhood. | recently, folic acid supplementation during pregnancy was implicated as a potential risk factor for atopic diseases in childhood. | 2011 | 21690114 |
| perception of male caller identity in koalas (phascolarctos cinereus): acoustic analysis and playback experiments. | the ability to signal individual identity using vocal signals and distinguish between conspecifics based on vocal cues is important in several mammal species. furthermore, it can be important for receivers to differentiate between callers in reproductive contexts. in this study, we used acoustic analyses to determine whether male koala bellows are individually distinctive and to investigate the relative importance of different acoustic features for coding individuality. we then used a habituatio ... | 2011 | 21633499 |
| fundamental movement skills and self-concept of children who are overweight. | differences in fundamental movement skills and self-perceptions of physical ability and physical appearance of overweight and non-overweight children were investigated. | 2011 | 21627397 |
| maternal and child's vitamin d supplement use and vitamin d level in relation to childhood lung function: the koala birth cohort study. | vitamin d is associated with lung function in adults, but its relation with childhood lung function is still unclear. | 2011 | 21422038 |
| association between parenting practices and children's dietary intake, activity behavior and development of body mass index: the koala birth cohort study. | insights into the effects of energy balance-related parenting practices on children's diet and activity behavior at an early age is warranted to determine which practices should be recommended and to whom. the purpose of this study was to examine child and parent background correlates of energy balance-related parenting practices at age 5, as well as the associations of these practices with children's diet, activity behavior, and body mass index (bmi) development. | 2011 | 21401954 |
| maternal fatty acid status in pregnancy and childhood atopic manifestations: koala birth cohort study. | prevalence of atopic disorders has increased rapidly, but aetiological factors responsible for this increase are still largely unknown. prenatal exposure to a pro-inflammatory fatty acid status is hypothesized although little research has been carried out. | 2011 | 21255139 |
| the effect of misoprostol on postpartum contractions: a randomised comparison of three sublingual doses. | to compare the postpartum uterine activity and side effects of various doses of sublingual misoprostol and intramuscular oxytocin. | 2011 | 21199290 |
| assessment of oxidant susceptibility of red blood cells in various species based on cell deformability. | the present study was designed to investigate the oxidant susceptibility of red blood cells (rbc) from four species (echidna, human, koala, tasmanian devil) based on changes in cellular deformability. these species were specifically chosen based on differences in lifestyle and/or biology associated with varied levels of oxidative stress. the major focus was the influence of superoxide radicals generated within the cell (phenazine methosulfate, pms, 50 μm) or in the extracellular medium (xanthine ... | 2011 | 22433570 |
| dietary specialization and eucalyptus species preferences in queensland koalas (phascolarctos cinereus). | koalas specialize on eucalyptus leaves, but also feed selectively. food choice is not random, but depends on various factors that are not well understood, although most research has focused on the role of secondary plant compounds. we studied the feeding choices of four adult male koalas housed at the san diego zoo. all subjects had a choice of nine types of eucalyptus leaves over the eight-week study. the most preferred species was e. camuldulensis, but individual males exhibited different feed ... | 2011 | 20186726 |
| association of breast-feeding and feeding on demand with child weight status up to 4 years. | the mechanisms underlying the protective effect of breast-feeding on the development of childhood overweight are unclear. this study examines the association of breast-feeding with weight gain in the first year, and body mass index (bmi) and overweight up to 4 years. in addition, we examine possible mechanisms of this effect (i.e., feeding pattern, eating style, unhealthy snacking behavior). | 2011 | 20858157 |
| using quantitative polymerase chain reaction to correlate chlamydia pecorum infectious load with ocular, urinary and reproductive tract disease in the koala (phascolarctos cinereus). | complex interactions between chlamydia pecorum infection, the immune response and disease exist in the koala. we used quantitative polymerase chain reaction to investigate the relationship between c. pecorum infectious load and ocular and urogenital tract disease. chlamydia pecorum shedding was generally higher in animals with chronic, active disease than in animals with inactive disease. the absence of ocular disease was generally associated with low levels of shedding, but relatively high leve ... | 2011 | 21933169 |
| plasma concentrations of chloramphenicol after subcutaneous administration to koalas (phascolarctos cinereus) with chlamydiosis. | govendir, m., hanger, j., loader, j. j., kimble, b., griffith, j. e., black, l. a., krockenberger, m. b., higgins, d. p. plasma concentrations of chloramphenicol after subcutaneous administration to koalas (phascolarctos cinereus) with chlamydiosis. j. vet. pharmacol. therap. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2885.2011.01307.x. nine mature koalas with chlamydiosis, typically keratoconjunctivitis and/or urogenital tract infection, were treated with daily subcutaneous injections of chloramphenicol at 60 mg/kg f ... | 2011 | 21569052 |
| secretome of the coprophilous fungus doratomyces stemonitis c8, isolated from koala feces. | coprophilous fungi inhabit herbivore feces, secreting enzymes to degrade the most recalcitrant parts of plant biomass that have resisted the digestive process. consequently, the secretomes of coprophilous fungi have high potential to contain novel and efficient plant cell wall degrading enzymes of biotechnological interest. we have used one-dimensional and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (maldi-tof/tof ms/ms ... | 2011 | 21498763 |
| cryptococcus yokohamensis sp. nov., a basidiomycetous yeast isolated from trees and queensland koala kept in a japanese zoological park. | three strains were isolated from the nostrils of a koala and the surrounding environment in a japanese zoological park. sequence analysis of the nuclear rdna internal transcribed spacer (its) region and the large subunit rrna gene d1/d2 domains in addition to physiological and morphological studies indicated that they represent a single novel species belonging to the basidiomycetous genus cryptococcus (tremellales, tremellomycetes, agaricomycotina). phylogenetic analysis based on d1/d2 and its r ... | 2011 | 21257688 |
| novel trypanosome trypanosoma gilletti sp. (euglenozoa: trypanosomatidae) and the extension of the host range of trypanosoma copemani to include the koala ( phascolarctos cinereus). | trypanosoma irwini was previously described from koalas and we now report the finding of a second novel species, t. gilletti, as well as the extension of the host range of trypanosoma copemani to include koalas. phylogenetic analysis at the 18s rdna and ggapdh loci demonstrated that t. gilletti was genetically distinct with a genetic distance (± s.e.) at the 18s rdna locus of 2.7 ± 0.5% from t. copemani (wombat). at the ggapdh locus, the genetic distance (± s.e.) of t. gilletti was 8.7 ± 1.1% fr ... | 2011 | 20663248 |
| the potential impact of native australian trypanosome infections on the health of koalas (phascolarctos cinereus). | whole blood collected from koalas admitted to the australian zoo wildlife hospital (azwh), beerwah, qld, australia, during late 2006-2009 was tested using trypanosome species-specific 18s rdna pcrs designed to amplify dna from trypanosoma irwini, t. gilletti and t. copemani. clinical records for each koala sampled were reviewed and age, sex, blood packed cell volume (pcv), body condition, signs of illness, blood loss, trauma, chlamydiosis, bone marrow disease, koala aids and hospital admission o ... | 2011 | 21524321 |
| fatty acids in breast milk and development of atopic eczema and allergic sensitisation in infancy. | one of the explanations for the increasing prevalence of atopic diseases is a relative low perinatal supply of n-3 fatty acids. however, this does not explain the protective effects of whole-fat dairy products or high levels of transfatty acids in breast milk, observed in some studies. we evaluated the role of perinatal supply of fatty acids in the early development of atopic eczema and allergic sensitisation. | 2011 | 20659079 |
| isolation of koala retroviruses from koalas in japan. | koala retrovirus (korv) is considered to be associated with leukemia, lymphoma and immunodeficiency-like diseases in koalas. we therefore conducted a pilot study of korv infection in five queensland koalas in kobe municipal oji zoo. by polymerase chain reaction to detect partial env and pol genes of korv in genomic dna isolated from whole blood and feces, all five koalas were found to be positive for korv proviruses. we succeeded in culturing koala lymphocytes from less than 1 ml blood for over ... | 2011 | 20805639 |
| pulmonary cytochrome p450 enzymes belonging to the cyp4b subfamily from an australian marsupial, the tammar wallaby (macropus eugenii). | cytochromes p450 (cyps) are critically important in the oxidative metabolism of a diverse array of xenobiotics and endogenous substrates. we have previously reported the cloning and characterisation of the koala cyp4a15, the first reported member of the cyp4 family from marsupials, and have demonstrated important species differences in cyp4a activity and tissue expression. in the present study, the cloning of cyp4b1 in the wallaby (macropus eugenii) and their expression across marsupials is desc ... | 2011 | 20826229 |
| increased neutralizing antibody response after simultaneous immunization with leucogen and the feline leukemia virus transmembrane protein. | to develop improved vaccination strategies against feline leukemia virus (felv), rats were immunized with the transmembrane envelope protein p15e of felv alone or in combination with the commercial vaccine leucogen® comprising the nonglycosylated felv surface envelope protein. binding and neutralizing antibodies were induced in both groups and in the group immunized with leucogen alone. higher titers of antibodies neutralizing felv were induced by simultaneous immunization with leucogen and p15e ... | 2011 | 20829603 |
| novel molecular markers of chlamydia pecorum genetic diversity in the koala (phascolarctos cinereus). | abstract: | 2011 | 21496349 |
| detection and identification of probable endemic fungal pathogen, cryptococcus gattii, and worldwide pathogen, cryptococcus neoformans, by real-time pcr. | a real-time pcr method for detection and identification of cryptococcus neoformans and cryptococcus gattii was developed and evaluated using dna from single-colony or koala nasal smears. two taqman minor groove binder probes that distinguished between these species were designed corresponding to the internal sequences of the cap59 gene for both species. the real-time pcr assay had 100% specificity, as assessed using 13 reference strains and 300 environmental strains. twelve smear samples from he ... | 2011 | 21623899 |
| differential resistance of mammalian sperm chromatin to oxidative stress as assessed by a two-tailed comet assay. | protamines of eutherian species are cysteine-rich molecules that become cross-linked by disulfide bonds during epididymal transit, whereas the protamines of most marsupial species lack cysteine residuals. the present study made use of the differences in protamine structure between eutherian and metatherian mammal spermatozoa to examine the comparative resistance of sperm dna to oxidative damage in three eutherian species (mus musculus, homo sapiens, sus domesticus) and three metatherian species ... | 2011 | 21635811 |
| cytochrome p450 cyp3a in marsupials: cloning and characterisation of the second identified cyp3a subfamily member, isoform 3a78 from koala (phascolarctos cinereus). | cytochromes p450 (cyps) are critically important in the oxidative metabolism of a diverse array of xenobiotics and endogenous substrates. previously, we cloned and characterised the cyp2c, cyp4a, and cyp4b gene subfamilies from marsupials and demonstrated important species-differences in both activity and tissue expression of these cyp enzymes. recently, we isolated the eastern grey kangaroo cyp3a70. here we have cloned and characterised the second identified member of marsupial cyp3a gene subfa ... | 2011 | 21807118 |
| growth inhibition and chromosomal instability of cultured marsupial (opossum) cells after treatment with dna polymerase +¦ inhibitor. | the dna replication mechanism has been well established for eutherian mammals (placental mammals such as humans, mice, and cattle), but not, to date, for metatherian mammals (marsupials such as kangaroos, koalas, and opossums). in this study, we found that dehydroaltenusin, a selective inhibitor of mammalian (eutherian) dna polymerase +¦, clearly suppressed the growth of metatherian (opossum and rat kangaroo) cultured cells. in cultured opossum (ok) cells, dehydroaltenusin also suppressed the pr ... | 2011 | 21737927 |
| detection of a novel gammaherpesvirus in koalas (phascolarctos cinereus). | a novel gammaherpesvirus was detected in wild koalas (phascolarctos cinereus) captured at different locations during 2010. sequence analysis of the dna polymerase gene revealed that the virus was genetically distinct from all known gammaherpesviruses. this is the first herpesvirus to be definitively identified in the vombatiforme suborder (koalas and wombats). | 2011 | 21719855 |
| long-term surveillance and treatment of subclinical cryptococcosis and nasal colonization by cryptococcus neoformans and c. gattii species complex in captive koalas (phascolarctes cinereus). | cryptococcosis is an important systemic mycosis caused by members of the cryptococcus neoformans species complex. this disease is potentially fatal in various animals, including koalas. we describe the long-term surveillance and treatment of subclinical cryptococcosis and nasal colonization of koalas by cryptococcus neoformans and c. gattii. of the 15 animals investigated through the use of samples obtained by nasal swabs, antigen titer measurements, and pathologic examination, c. neoformans was ... | 2011 | 21859391 |
| relationships between the dynamics of iatrogenic dna damage and genomic design in mammalian spermatozoa from eleven species. | the dynamic onset of dna fragmentation in mammalian sperm populations varies widely in different species when the spermatozoa are incubated in vitro at body temperature for several hours, and recent studies have shown that the dynamic rate of dna fragmentation within a species has considerable predictive value in terms of fertility. the reasons for such variation are unclear, but here we show that differences in protamine sequence and identity could be partially responsible. sets of 10 normal se ... | 2011 | 21919111 |
| within-population diversity of koala chlamydophila pecorum at ompa vd1-vd3 and the orf663 hypothetical gene. | infection of koalas by chlamydophila pecorum is very common and causes significant morbidity, infertility and mortality. fundamental to management of the disease is an understanding of the importance of multi-serotype infection or pathogen virulence in pathogenesis; these may need consideration in plans involving koala movement, vaccination, or disease risk assessment. here we describe diversity of ompa vd1-3, and orf663 hypothetical gene tandem repeat regions, in a single population of koalas w ... | 2011 | 22118784 |
| the mammary gland-specific marsupial elp and eutherian cti share a common ancestral gene. | the marsupial early lactation protein (elp) gene is expressed in the mammary gland and the protein is secreted into milk during early lactation (phase 2a). mature elp shares approximately 55.4% similarity with the colostrum-specific bovine colostrum trypsin inhibitor (cti) protein. although elp and cti both have a single bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (bpti)-kunitz domain and are secreted only during the early lactation phases, their evolutionary history is yet to be investigated. | 2012 | 22681678 |
| preshipment testing success: resolution of a nasal sinus granuloma in a captive koala (phascolarctos cinereus) caused by cryptococcus gattii. | a 3-yr-old female koala (phascolarctos cinereus) was diagnosed with a nasal sinus granuloma caused by cryptococcus gattii after a pre-shipment examination revealed a latex cryptococcal agglutination titer of 1:512. successful medical and surgical treatment of the granuloma was monitored using serial latex cryptococcal agglutination titers, serum levels of antifungal drugs, and advanced imaging. | 2012 | 23272367 |