Production of Milk and Nutrition of the Dependent Young of Free‐Ranging Koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus)

1998 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew K. Krockenberger ◽  
Ian D. Hume ◽  
Steven J. Cork
2019 ◽  
Vol 57 (7) ◽  
pp. 848-857 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura J Schmertmann ◽  
Alex Kan ◽  
Valentina S A Mella ◽  
Cristina M Fernandez ◽  
Mathew S Crowther ◽  
...  

AbstractCryptococcosis, caused by environmental fungi in the Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii species complexes, affects a variety of hosts, including koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus). Cryptococcal antigenemia and nasal colonization are well characterized in captive koalas, but free-ranging populations have not been studied systematically. Free-ranging koalas (181) from the Liverpool Plains region of New South Wales, Australia, were tested for cryptococcal antigenemia (lateral flow immunoassay) and nasal colonization (bird seed agar culture). Results were related to environmental and individual koala characteristics. Eucalypt trees (14) were also randomly tested for the presence of Cryptococcus spp. by bird seed agar culture. In sum, 5.5% (10/181) and 6.6% (12/181) of koalas were positive for antigenemia and nasal colonization, respectively, on at least one occasion. And 64.3% (9/14) of eucalypts were culture-positive for Cryptococcus spp. URA5 restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis identified most isolates as C. gattii VGI, while C. neoformans VNI was only found in one koala and one tree. Colonized koalas were significantly more likely to test positive for antigenemia. No associations between antigenemia or colonization, and external environmental characteristics (the relative abundance of Eucalyptus camaldulensis and season), or individual koala characteristics (body condition, sex, and age), could be established, suggesting that antigenemia and colonization are random outcomes of host-pathogen-environment interactions. The relationship between positive antigenemia status and a relatively high abundance of E. camaldulensis requires further investigation. This study characterizes cryptococcosis in a free-ranging koala population, expands the ecological niche of the C. gattii/C. neoformans species complexes and highlights free-ranging koalas as important sentinels for this disease.


1989 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.A. Girjes ◽  
B.J. Weigler ◽  
A.F. Hugall ◽  
F.N. Carrick ◽  
M.F. Lavin

1985 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 137 ◽  
Author(s):  
MA Hindell ◽  
KA Handasyde ◽  
AK Lee

Tree species selection was studied in free-ranging populations of koalas [Phascolarctos cinereus] on Phillip Island and the Brisbane Ranges in Victoria. At both sites koalas were found mainly on Eucalyptus spp. but occasionally used Acacia spp. Although koalas occurred on most of the Eucalyptus spp. present, both populations showed preferences for one or two species, particularly E. viminalis. Individual koalas showed different preferences, but the majority preferred E. viminalis. Some occurred exclusively on other species even when E. viminalis was close by. Koalas also showed preference for individual trees within a species.


2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 523-529 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lyndal S. Hulse ◽  
Danica Hickey ◽  
Jessica M. Mitchell ◽  
Kenneth W. Beagley ◽  
William Ellis ◽  
...  

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 and reproductive tissues, from koalas. Each rtPCR panel was developed for use as a single-tube reaction using pathogen-specific primers and fluorescently labeled probe sets. DNA extracted from reference strains and isolates was used for validation of sequence gene targets for the multiplex rtPCR panels. Each panel was shown to be sensitive and specific in detecting and differentiating the bacterial pathogens. The multiplex rtPCR panels were used to screen clinical samples from free-ranging and hospitalized koalas for multiple pathogens simultaneously. The multiplex rtPCR will improve turnaround time compared to individual-pathogen rtPCR methods used, to date, for confirmation of diagnosis and will provide the wildlife clinician with the ability to make treatment decisions more rapidly.


2020 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 368-376
Author(s):  
Philip M.R. Downey ◽  
Charles G.B. Caraguel ◽  
Natasha Speight ◽  
Jessica Fabijan ◽  
Wayne S.J. Boardman

2002 ◽  
Vol 50 (6) ◽  
pp. 621 ◽  
Author(s):  
Murray Logan ◽  
Gordon D. Sanson

The sociality (as measured by the degree of bellowing and amount of tree use) of five adult male koalas and one sub-adult male koala (Phascolarctos cinereus), with varying degrees of tooth wear, were investigated using acoustically sensitive radio-telemetry. Initial increases in tooth wear that coincide with an increase in age to maturity were associated with an increase in reproductive effort. Advanced tooth wear was found to be associated with a decrease in reproductive effort. This trend in reproductive effort is consistent with life-history predictions, and suggests that tooth wear has the potential to impose limitations on the reproductive longevity and fecundity of free-ranging male koalas.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. e0190114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharon Nyari ◽  
Courtney A. Waugh ◽  
Jianbao Dong ◽  
Bonnie L. Quigley ◽  
Jonathan Hanger ◽  
...  

2011 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
pp. 49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth F. Lee ◽  
Srinivas Varanasi ◽  
Lyndall M. Pettett ◽  
Philip S. Bird ◽  
Anne L. Symons

This study investigated changes in alveolar bone height in free-ranging koalas of different age groups. Twenty-seven free-ranging Queensland koalas (15 female, 12 male), admitted to the Moggill Koala Hospital, Brisbane, were used in this study. Koalas were divided into three groups (young, adult, old) on the basis of tooth wear, each group containing nine animals. Defleshed jaws were examined for the presence of alveolar bone defects. The distance from the cemento-enamel junction and the interproximal crestal alveolar bone height was measured on the buccal aspects of the second and third molars. Jaws were photographed and radiographed. Bone defects (dehiscences and fenestrations) were observed in both jaws and were predominantly located on the buccal aspect of the alveolar process. The loss of height of crestal alveolar bone, relative to the cemento-enamel junction, increased with age, with 25 koalas showing moderate to severe bone loss and only two koalas having none/mild loss levels at all measurement sites. Female koalas had higher frequency of ‘none/mild’ cases of bone loss than did males. There was no variation in levels of alveolar bone loss between the upper and lower jaws or the corresponding right and left arches.


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