THE DIAGNOSIS AND EPIDEMIOLOGY OF AN INFERTILITY DISEASE IN THE FEMALE KOALA |
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| Authors: | Anthony S Brown BSc BVSc Frank N Carrick BSc PhD Greg Gordon BSc PhD† Kira Reynolds BA ARMIT MIR‡ |
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| Institution: | Reproductive Biology Group, Department of Veterinary Anatomy, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Australia 4067.;National Parks and Wildlife Service, 239 George Street, Brisbane, Australia 4000.;Department of Veterinary Surgery, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Australia 4067. |
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| Abstract: | A radiographic technique, incorporating pneumoperitoneum, was developed to aid in identification of cyst-like structures in the reproductive tract of female koalas. These lesions, including pyometra and fluid-filled cysts associated with the upper reproductive tract, were viewed as radiopacities with clearly demarcated margins lateral to the caudal lumbar vertebrae. This technique provided a means of assessing with a high degree of reliability the incidence and distribution of this condition in various populations of koalas throughout eastern and southern Australia. A radiographic survey of 237 adult female koalas revealed a 43% (101/237) incidence of this condition, which is closely correlated with the lack of reproductive success observed in some populations of koalas in the wild. Although the etiology of this condition is little understood at present, the isolation of Chlamydia psittaci from the reproductive tracts of affected koalas, both male and female, is recorded. |
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| Keywords: | koala pneumoperitoneum infertility Chlamydia psittaci |
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