Conjunctivitis Associated with Chlamydia pecorum in Three Koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) in the Mount Lofty Ranges, South Australia

Koala retrovirus, a recent discovery in Australian koalas, is endogenised in 100% of northern koalas but has lower prevalence in southern populations, with lower proviral and viral loads, and an undetermined level of endogenisation. KoRV has been associated with lymphoid neoplasia, e.g., lymphoma. Recent studies have revealed high complexity in southern koala retroviral infections, with a need to clarify what constitutes positive and negative cases. This study aimed to define KoRV infection status in Mount Lofty Ranges koalas in South Australia using RNA-seq and proviral analysis (n = 216). The basis for positivity of KoRV was deemed the presence of central regions of the KoRV genome (gag 2, pol, env 1, and env 2) and based on this, 41% (89/216) koalas were positive, 57% (124/216) negative, and 2% inconclusive. These genes showed higher expression in lymph node tissue from KoRV positive koalas with lymphoma compared with other KoRV positive koalas, which showed lower, fragmented expression. Terminal regions (LTRs, partial gag, and partial env) were present in SA koalas regardless of KoRV status, with almost all (99.5%, 215/216) koalas positive for gag 1 by proviral PCR. Further investigation is needed to understand the differences in KoRV infection in southern koala populations.

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Using non-invasive sampling methods to determine the prevalence and distribution of Chlamydia pecorum and koala retrovirus in a remnant koala population with conservation importance

Wildlife Research ◽

10.1071/wr17184 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 45 (4) ◽

pp. 366 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Faye Wedrowicz ◽

Jennifer Mosse ◽

Wendy Wright ◽

Fiona E. Hogan

Keyword(s):

Native Species ◽

Conservation Strategies ◽

The South ◽

Phascolarctos Cinereus ◽

Urogenital Infection ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Chlamydia Pecorum ◽

Genetic Sampling ◽

Pathogen Prevalence ◽

Koala Retrovirus

Context Pathogenic infections are an important consideration for the conservation of native species, but obtaining such data from wild populations can be expensive and difficult. Two pathogens have been implicated in the decline of some koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) populations: urogenital infection with Chlamydia pecorum and koala retrovirus subgroup A (KoRV-A). Pathogen data for a wild koala population of conservation importance in South Gippsland, Victoria are essentially absent. Aims This study uses non-invasive sampling of koala scats to provide prevalence and genotype data for C. pecorum and KoRV-A in the South Gippsland koala population, and compares pathogen prevalence between wild koalas and koalas in rescue shelters. Methods C. pecorum and KoRV-A provirus were detected by PCR of DNA isolated from scats collected in the field. Pathogen genetic variation was investigated using DNA sequencing of the C. pecorum ompA and KoRV-A env genes. Key results C. pecorum and KoRV-A were detected in 61% and 27% of wild South Gippsland individuals tested, respectively. KoRV-A infection tended to be higher in shelter koalas compared with wild koalas. In contrast with other Victorian koala populations sampled, greater pathogen diversity was present in South Gippsland. Conclusions In the South Gippsland koala population, C. pecorum is widespread and common whereas KoRV appears less prevalent than previously thought. Further work exploring the dynamics of these pathogens in South Gippsland koalas is warranted and may help inform future conservation strategies for this important population. Implications Non-invasive genetic sampling from scats is a powerful method for obtaining data regarding pathogen prevalence and diversity in wildlife. The use of non-invasive methods for the study of pathogens may help fill research gaps in a way that would be difficult or expensive to achieve using traditional methods.

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Rapid point‐of‐care diagnostics for the detection of Chlamydia pecorum in koalas ( Phascolarctos cinereus ) using loop‐mediated isothermal amplification without nucleic acid purification

MicrobiologyOpen ◽

10.1002/mbo3.916 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 (12) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Lyndal S. Hulse ◽

Sean McDonald ◽

Stephen D. Johnston ◽

Kenneth W. Beagley

Keyword(s):

Nucleic Acid ◽

Point Of Care ◽

Isothermal Amplification ◽

Phascolarctos Cinereus ◽

Loop Mediated Isothermal Amplification ◽

Chlamydia Pecorum ◽

Point Of Care Diagnostics ◽

Nucleic Acid Purification

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Periodontal disease in free‐ranging koalas ( Phascolarctos cinereus ) from the Mount Lofty Ranges, South Australia, and its association with koala retrovirus infection

Australian Veterinary Journal ◽

10.1111/avj.12919 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 98 (5) ◽

pp. 200-206 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

RG Butcher ◽

LM Pettett ◽

J Fabijan ◽

E Ebrahimie ◽

M Mohammadi‐Dehcheshmeh ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Periodontal Disease ◽

South Australia ◽

Phascolarctos Cinereus ◽

Retrovirus Infection ◽

Free Ranging ◽

Koala Retrovirus

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Chlamydia pecorum Infection in the Reproductive Tract of Female Koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus)

Journal of Comparative Pathology ◽

10.1016/j.jcpa.2019.10.160 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 174 ◽

pp. 189

Author(s):

S. Pagliarani ◽

S. Johnston ◽

M. Pyne ◽

R. Booth ◽

L. Hulse ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Reproductive Tract ◽

Phascolarctos Cinereus ◽

Chlamydia Pecorum

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Antigenic specificity of a monovalent versus polyvalent MOMP based Chlamydia pecorum vaccine in koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus)

Vaccine ◽

10.1016/j.vaccine.2012.12.057 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 31 (8) ◽

pp. 1217-1223 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

Avinash Kollipara ◽

Charles Wan ◽

Galit Rawlinson ◽

Jacqui Brumm ◽

Karen Nilsson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antigenic Specificity ◽

Phascolarctos Cinereus ◽

Chlamydia Pecorum

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Detection and Differentiation of Two Koala Gammaherpesviruses by Use of High-Resolution Melt (HRM) Analysis Reveals Differences in Viral Prevalence and Clinical Associations in a Large Study of Free-Ranging Koalas

Journal of Clinical Microbiology ◽

10.1128/jcm.01478-18 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 57 (3) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

P. K. Vaz ◽

A. R. Legione ◽

C. A. Hartley ◽

J. M. Devlin

Keyword(s):

High Resolution ◽

Clinical Significance ◽

Large Scale ◽

Diagnostic Methods ◽

High Resolution Melt ◽

Phascolarctos Cinereus ◽

Content Type ◽

Island Populations ◽

Chlamydia Pecorum ◽

The Individual

ABSTRACTThe iconic koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) is host to two divergent gammaherpesviruses, phascolarctid gammaherpesviruses 1 and 2 (PhaHV-1 and -2), but the clinical significance of the individual viruses is unknown and current diagnostic methods are unsuitable for differentiating between the viruses in large-scale studies. To address this, we modified a pan-herpesvirus nested PCR to incorporate high-resolution melt analysis. We applied this assay in a molecular epidemiological study of 810 koalas from disparate populations across Victoria, Australia, including isolated island populations. Animal and clinical data recorded at sampling were analyzed and compared to infection status. Between populations, the prevalence of PhaHV-1 and -2 varied significantly, ranging from 1% to 55%. Adult and older animals were 5 to 13 times more likely to be positive for PhaHV-1 than juveniles (P< 0.001), whereas PhaHV-2 detection did not change with age, suggesting differences in how these two viruses are acquired over the life of the animal. PhaHV-1 detection was uniquely associated with the detection of koala retrovirus, particularly in females (P= 0.008). Both viruses were significantly associated (P< 0.05) with the presence of genital tract abnormalities (uterine/ovarian cysts and testicular malformation), reduced fertility in females, urinary incontinence, and detection ofChlamydia pecorum, although the strength of these associations varied by sex and virus. Understanding the clinical significance of these viruses and how they interact with other pathogens will inform future management of threatened koala populations.

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