Tree-hugging, eucalyptus-chomping, sleep-loving: it is easy to see why the cuddly koala is an animal favourite for any tourist Down Under.
But visitors might not realise that tens of thousands of the cute marsupials now suffer from an exceptionally painful and often lethal condition. It is one caused by bacteria with a notorious reputation. Australia’s koalas are being killed by chlamydia.
“About half the koalas across Australia are infected,” says David Wilson, professor of infectious diseases at the Burnet Institute in Melbourne. “In closed populations, the majority can be infected – sometimes up to 80%.”
Koalas are struck by a different strain of the disease from that which affects humans – although it seems humans can catch the koala version through exposure to an infected animal’s urine.
In koalas, the effects of chlamydia are devastating, including blindness, infertility and an infection known as ‘dirty tail’.
“Dirty tail is actually really awful," says Wilson. “The urinary tract gets inflamed and expands substantially; it’s incredibly painful. They get discharge and many koalas die.” . . .
. . . “Chlamydia is a very ancient pathogen,” says Wilson. “It’s been around tens of thousands of years and exists in many species.” Other victims include guinea pigs, sheep and crocodiles.
***** BIRDS
Wilson says it can be particularly problematic in birds, which can transfer the disease to humans via their faeces and nasal droppings.
I wouldn’t breathe anywhere near the fountains in Europe, says Wilson, who thinks that bird dropping particles in the air can damage human lungs.
[poster's interjection: power washing & leaf blowing are surely problematic not just at the fountains of Europe. Sigh.]
******
Back in Australia, though, there is not a lot that can be done for the iconic koala. While the pathogen can be treated by antibiotics, these have some pretty devastating side effects.
“Koalas have a gut full of bacteria that is essential to digest eucalyptus leaves,” says Peter Timms of Queensland University of Technology.
“So if you’re giving them systematic antibiotics, it is actually killing this.”
What’s more, antibiotics are of little use once the disease is too far gone. . . .
[Full article at BBC link above.] -
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Keebler
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The most common strains of Chlamydia include Chlamydia trachomantis, which is most common in humans, C. pneumoniae, C. psittaci, which are both found in many species, and C. pecorum, which is the most common in Koalas.
C. pneumoniae, C. psittaci, and C. pecorum are the majority of the infections found in Koalas.
Interestingly, an animal can be infected with multiple strains at the same time.
C. psittaci is the most harmful of the Chlamydia strains among koalas. This strain has two types, Type I and Type II, and causes blindness, infertility, and death.
Type II is the more common of the types and is linked to conjunctivitis and urinary tract infections. Type I is considered the more infectious of the types, but is not as common. This type usually presents the more lethal symptoms in koalas/
C. pneumoniae is the least lethal among the Chlamydia strains in koalas.
This strain usually causes respiratory infections and common pneumonia symptoms.
C. pecorum is the newest strain that is found in the koala population. This strain normally causes conjunctivitis (pink eye) and pneumonia.
. . . Long Term Effects . . . .
[Full article at link above.] -
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Keebler
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posted
- Many people with lyme also carry Cpn (though other strains can also be on board, too).
Emerging information about Chlamydia pneumoniae in disease & its treatment. -
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WPinVA
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Yep, so true. I am having a heck of a time getting rid of CPN.
Did not know the koalas were in the same boat.
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poppy
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I don't get the title of the article. Are they saying because the koalas have this and it is incurable, they should be killed? Or are they afraid humans will get it via koalas somehow?
No explanation there of why koalas now have this in such large numbers.
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Keebler
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posted
- This (and other strains they can carry) can jump to birds and then, perhaps to humans that way, through bird droppings that then get into the air.
"it seems humans can catch the koala version through exposure to an infected animal’s urine."
These critters roam all over, into yards, playgrounds, etc. So that is one consideration.
They are very "social" sexually and have multiple partners - that's a large influence in its spread.
Main point is that the koalas are just too ill - too late for medicine, too hard to distribute and it will make them unable to metabolize their food, leaving them pain from that and starvation.
and it spread is too wide, endangering further those few that have not yet contracted it.
The thinking of why this seems a necessary step makes sense. If there were a medicine that did not make their food inactive for them, that might be considered but they did not even mention that possibility. Bottom line: the stage of their illness is too far gone and they do pose a risk to other creatures.
To save their species, though, these particular experts' opinion is that the sick ones may need to be culled because there is no hope for them - but mostly because it's so easily spread and it could kill them all off.
While I have be following this for sometime and I understand the points of these experts, I do wish there were better options. I'd like to see if some herbalists could find plants that these critters really love so they could expand their diet while controlling this infection.
Loss of habitat (one reason why they are scouring neighborhood) and not having enough eucalyptus trees for their food also a key in this, it seems.
Eucalyptus does possess some antibacterial properties so it would be interesting to see why there is now such an explosion of this disease at this point in time - and if helping with habitat might be the best move.
There are many working on the various aspects of this. It's important that they get it right, not just for them but also to help some of the similar puzzles for humans as well, regarding getting enough of the right foods, stress, environment - and how antibiotics can wreck the stomach's ability to do its job.
Good news for us is that we can add probiotics and probiotic containing foods, etc. The koalas don't have that option.
There is one excellent book but I forget name or author (either Diana Fossey or Jane Goodall) about how apes in the wild know which plants to consume when they don't feel well. Amazing book. Wish I could think of the title. -
[ 02-12-2016, 03:02 PM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
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