An investigation of two significant infectious diseases in populations of Victorian koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus)

Abstract

The koala (Phascolarctos cinereus), an iconic Australian marsupial, is considered a vulnerable species in parts of Australia due to recent rapid population declines. The role of infectious diseases in population declines in northern koalas (New South Wales (NSW) and Queensland populations) has been highly studied. Chlamydia pecorum and koala retrovirus (KoRV) have both been given considerable attention. C. pecorum in koalas is associated with infertility and blindness through infection of the urogenital tract and conjunctiva, respectively. The prevalence of C. pecorum in northern koalas is as high as 87%. Different genotypes of KoRV have been identified in northern koalas. KoRV-A has been ..