Helping koalas battle disease - Recent advances in Chlamydia and koala retrovirus (KoRV) disease understanding and treatment in koalas.

ABSTRACT: The iconic Australian marsupial, the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus), has suffered dramatic population declines as a result of habitat loss and fragmentation, disease, vehicle collision mortality, dog attacks, bushfires and climate change. In 2012, koalas were officially declared vulnerable by the Australian government and listed as a threatened species. In response, research into diseases affecting koalas has expanded rapidly. The two major pathogens affecting koalas are Chlamydia pecorum, leading to chlamydial disease and koala retrovirus (KoRV). In the last eight years, these pathogens and their diseases have received focused study regarding their sources, genetics, prevalence, disease presentation and transmission. This has led to vast improvements in pathogen detection and treatment, i

SUBMITTER: Quigley BL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8600735 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature