Decline causes of Koalas in South East Queensland, Australia: a 17-year retrospective study of mortality and morbidity.

ABSTRACT: Koala populations are in catastrophic decline in certain eastern Australian regions. Spanning from 1997-2013, a database derived from wildlife hospitals in southeast Queensland with N = 20,250 entries was classified by causes of morbidity and mortality. A total of 11 aetiologies were identified, with chlamydiosis, trauma, and wasting being most common. The clinical diagnosis at submission varied significantly over the observation period. Combinations of aetiologies were observed in 39% of koalas submitted, with chlamydiosis frequently co-occurring. Urogenital (cystitis 26.8%, bursitis 13.5%) and ocular (conjunctivitis 17.2%) chlamydiosis were the most frequently diagnosed representations of the infection. Approximately 26% of submissions comprised koalas involved in vehicle accidents that

SUBMITTER: Gonzalez-Astudillo V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5316976 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature