Necropsy findings of koalas from the Mount Lofty Ranges population in South Australia.

OBJECTIVE: This study reports necropsy findings of koalas from the Mount Lofty Ranges region in order to identify health threats to this mainland South Australian population. METHODS: Koalas from the Mount Lofty Ranges region (n = 85) that had died or been euthanased on welfare grounds were examined at necropsy during 2012-13 at the School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Adelaide. Disease findings, approximate age, sex and body condition of koalas were recorded. Histopathological examination was undertaken on gross lesions and in suspect cases, skin scrapings taken for microscopy and PCR performed for Chlamydia pecorum detection. RESULTS: Traumatic injury was the most common necropsy finding (48/85; 57%), caused by motor vehicle accidents (35/48; 73%), canine attacks (11/48; 23%) or bushfire burns (2/48; 4%). Oxalate nephrosis (27/85; 32%) was also more common than other conditions. Infectious diseases included chlamydiosis (10/85; 12%) and sarcoptic mange (7/85; 8%). Marked testis asymmetry was evident in 11% (6/56) of males, with histopathology suggestive of atrophic change in four animals. Other pathological conditions included gastrointestinal disease (7/85; 8%) and respiratory disease (3/85; 4%). Almost half of the koalas (38/85; 45%) were found to have two or more abnormalities at necropsy. CONCLUSION: This study found trauma, mainly from motor vehicle accidents, and oxalate nephrosis to be the predominant causes of death and/or disease in koalas from the Mount Lofty Ranges region. Recent emergence of both clinical chlamydiosis and sarcoptic mange has also occurred, providing insight into the health status and causes of disease or injury in this South Australian mainland koala population.

Outbreaks of sarcoptic mange in free-ranging koala populations in Victoria and South Australia: a case series.

OBJECTIVE: To describe outbreaks of sarcoptic mange caused by Sarcoptes scabiei in free-ranging koalas in Victoria (December 2008 to November 2015) and South Australia (October 2011 to September 2014). METHODS: Koalas affected by mange-like lesions were reported by wildlife carers, veterinary practitioners or State Government personnel to the Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences at The University of Melbourne and the School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences at The University of Adelaide. Skin scrapings were taken from live and dead koalas and S. scabiei mites were identified. Tissues from necropsied koalas were examined histologically. RESULTS: Outbreaks of sarcoptic mange were found to occur in koalas from both Victoria (n = 29) and South Australia (n = 29) for the first time. The gross pathological and histopathological changes are described. CONCLUSION: We present the first reported cases of sarcoptic mange outbreaks in free-ranging koalas.

What can we learn from the microbial ecological interactions associated with polymicrobial diseases?

Periodontal diseases in humans and animals are model polymicrobial diseases which are associated with a shift in the microbial community structure and function; there is therefore a need to investigate these diseases from a microbial ecological perspective. This review highlights three important areas of microbial ecological investigation of polymicrobial diseases and the lessons that could be learnt: (1) identification of disease-associated microbes and the implications for choice of anti-infective treatment; (2) the implications associated with vaccine design and development and (3) application of the dynamics of microbial interaction in the discovery of novel anti-infective agents. This review emphasises the need to invigorate microbial ecological approaches to the study of periodontal diseases and other polymicrobial diseases for greater understanding of the ecological interactions between and within the biotic and abiotic factors of the environment.

Pathological features of oxalate nephrosis in a population of koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) in South Australia.

The wild and captive koala population of the Mt Lofty Ranges in South Australia has a high level of renal dysfunction in which crystals consistent with calcium oxalate have been observed in the kidneys. This study aimed to describe the pathological features of the renal disease in this population, confirm the composition of renal crystals as calcium oxalate, and determine whether any age or sex predispositions exist for this disease. A total of 51 koalas (28 wild rescues, 23 captive) were examined at necropsy, of which 28 (55%) were found to have gross and/or histological evidence of oxalate nephrosis. Histopathological features included intratubular and interstitial inflammation, tubule dilation, glomerular atrophy, tubule loss, and cortical fibrosis. Calcium oxalate crystals were demonstrated using a combination of polarization microscopy, alizarin red S staining, infrared spectroscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis with scanning electron microscopy. Uric acid and phosphate deposits were also shown to be present but were associated with minimal histopathological changes. No significant differences were found between the numbers of affected captive and wild rescued koalas; also, there were no sex or age predispositions identified, but it was found that oxalate nephrosis may affect koalas <2 years of age. The findings of this study suggest that oxalate nephrosis is a leading disease in this koala population. Possible causes of this disease are currently under investigation.

A non-surgical uterine lavage technique in large cats intended for treatment of uterine infection-induced infertility.

This paper presents the successful use of a non-surgical, transcervical uterine lavage technique for the treatment of uterine infection-induced infertility in three female large cats. We developed a non-surgical uterine lavage technique, which allowed repeated flushing of the uterine lumen and installation of therapeutic antibiotics. The entire procedure was performed under general anaesthesia (duration of anesthesia ranged from 40 to 70 min). It was successfully applied in a Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae), a Corbett tiger (Panthera tigris corbetti) and an Amur leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis). The tigers were treated only once, whereas the leopard received four uterine treatments, due to re-infection after mating. Decisions to conduct uterine treatments were based on detection of uterine fluid during previous transrectal ultrasound examinations. The catheter was guided into the vagina, with the aid of an endoscope, passing the urethra, and then into the uterus, with the aid of transrectal ultrasonography. Both uterine horns were separately flushed with approximately 300 mL of cell medium M199, followed by an antibiotic infusion. Upon ultrasonographic re-examination, the topical uterine treatments resulted in an apparent decline in the inflammatory and/or degenerative processes. The Corbett tiger had the most severe uterine alterations, in addition to an aseptic pyometra. As a result, she was treated 1 month prior to ovariohysterectomy (in order to reduce the surgical risk). The Sumatran tiger was artificially inseminated twice after hormone-induced estrus, and the Amur leopard expressed a spontaneous estrus and re-initiated mating behaviour.

Cytology of haematological cells of otariid seals indigenous to Australasian waters.

OBJECTIVE: To characterise the morphology of cells from the blood of otariid seals. METHODS: Examination of blood by light and scanning electron microscopy. RESULTS: Erythrocytes were typically discocytes. Leukocytes that were recognised included neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils and basophils. The morphology varied little between species for neutrophils, lymphocytes and monocytes. Some variation between species was observed for eosinophils and basophils. Platelets were generally aggregated. CONCLUSION: This study provides a guide for the identification of cells from the blood of otariid seals.

Chorionic villus sampling for sex determination in a western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla).

Chorionic villus sampling was undertaken on an anesthetized gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) to determine the fetal sex in the first trimester of pregnancy. The tissue samples were subject to sex determination by polymerase chain reaction, fluorescent in situ hybridization, and cell culture with cytogenetic analysis. Polymerase chain reaction testing was found to be the most accurate and rapid method of sex determination on this tissue sample.

Skin disease affecting the conservation of the western swamp tortoise (Pseudemydura umbrina)

OBJECTIVE: To review the present position of the western swamp tortoise (Pseudemydura umbrina) as an endangered species and significant health issues affecting efforts to save it from extinction. PROCEDURE: A retrospective analysis of the husbandry, hospital and pathology records of the western swamp tortoise captive breeding program at Perth Zoo. RESULTS: In 1987 a captive breeding project was developed to prevent the extinction of the western swamp tortoise but an outbreak of a necrotising dermatitis in 1989 threatened the survival of the captive bred hatchlings. Less severe outbreaks occurred in 1990 and 1993, with isolated cases in between. Of 283 tortoises that were born in captivity or came into captivity from the wild, 37 (13.1%) were affected, comprising 37% of all males, 26% of all females and 13% of animals of unknown gender. Of the affected animals, 70% were less than 2 years of age and 29% were older. Males were 1.6 times more likely to be infected than females but this difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.27). Culture of the lesions consistently yielded unidentified Pseudomonas sp. CONCLUSION: Improved husbandry, such as strict maintenance of water quality and temperature conditions similar to that of the animal's natural habitat, and monitoring the health of individual tortoises have successfully controlled skin disease in the captive breeding of the western swamp tortoise.

Hematology and serum biochemistry reference values for anesthetized chuditch (Dasyurus geoffroii).

Blood samples from 36 clinically normal adult chuditch (Dasyurus geoffroii), a carnivorous Western Australian native marsupial, were analyzed to establish hematologic and biochemical reference ranges for this species.

Chemical restraint of the Nile hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) in captivity.

This retrospective study describes 16 immobilizations performed on nine adult captive Nile hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius). Animals were immobilized using intramuscular etorphine alone (1.0-5.0 micrograms/kg; n = 9) or in combination with xylazine (67-83 micrograms/kg; n = 6) or acepromazine (20 micrograms/kg; n = 1). Exact weights for the animals were unknown so drug dosages were based on estimated weights. Seven animals either were in good health or had minor or localized medical problems. Following etorphine and xylazine induction, one animal undergoing castration was anesthetized with isoflurane in oxygen delivered by endotracheal tube. Ten immobilizations occurred without complications, and eight of those procedures were rated as good or excellent. Complications, including bradypnea, cyanosis, and apnea, occurred during six immobilizations. One animal died following prolonged apnea, and the necropsy failed to find a specific cause of death. Immobilizations were reversed with diprenorphine alone (4.4-10.0 micrograms/kg; n = 13), diprenorphine (2.9 micrograms/kg) and naloxone (14.6 mu k/kg; n = 1), or naltrexone (146-180 micrograms/kg; n = 2). Mean time to reversal of immobilization for those animals given etorphine alone and reversed with diprenorphine alone was 21.6 min (n = 5). Time to reversal for the two immobilizations reversed with only naltrexone was 4 min. No renarcotizations were observed. Total doses of 2.0-6.0 mg etorphine i.m. should produce heavy sedation to surgical anesthesia in calm adult captive Nile hippopotamuses. Insufflation with oxygen during immobilization seems warranted.

Special challenges of maintaining wild animals in captivity in Australia and New Zealand: prevention of infectious and parasitic diseases.

The authors review infectious and parasitic diseases of eutherians (excluding marine mammals), marsupials, reptiles and birds in Australia and New Zealand. The diseases discussed are those which are common and/or more likely to affect humans. The emphasis is placed on the type of animal affected, the epidemiology, and hence the control or prevention measures necessary. Clinical signs, pathology and treatment are not considered in any detail.

The effect of severity, consistency, and typicalness information on clinicians' causal attributions.

Sixty-four clinicians responded to a brief description of a depressed student by indicating the extent to which each of four possible causes contributed to the depression. The descriptions were varied systematically so that the student's depression was described as either mild or severe, typical or atypical, and as having occurred before or as never having occurred before. Results indicated greater attribution of the depression to internal causal factors when the individual's depression was described as atypical and greater attribution to stable causal factors when the depression was described as having occurred previously. When the depression was described as severe, the clinicians tended to attribute it to external unstable causes. It was suggested that clinicians may differ from other populations in some of the causal attributions that they make for psychological difficulties.