Chlamydia in Koalas
Chlamydia is a bacterium that infects koalas, the predominant species in South Australian koalas is Chlamydia pecorum. This bacterial infection can cause a multitude of inflammatory diseases;
Koalas with chlamydial infections can be seen up in trees or sitting on the ground, depending on the severity of their disease. Distinctive things to look out for are the darker brown and stained rumps or squinting and inflamed eyes (top image)
Below are close-up images of the signs of chlamydia in koalas (images are of recent patients)
- Keratoconjunctivitis – which is inflammation of the tissue around the eyes, inside the eyelids, and corneal ulcerations. This can be from a mild reddening to extensive inflammation and swelling, so much so that this can cover the eyeball completely. This can lead to blindness in come koalas.
- Cystitis and urethritis – inflammation of the bladder and urethra. This lower urinary tract disease can cause pain and discomfort on urination and lead to urinary leakage, creating fur staining and ulceration of the koala’s skin around its rump. The staining, discolouration and ulceration of the skin on the koala’s rump is a syndrome known as “wet bottom”.
- Reproductive tract changes – uterine and ovarian in females, prostatic and testicular in males. These disease processes can not only be very painful and cause significant discomfort in koalas, but it can also lead to infertility in both female and male koalas.
Koalas with chlamydial infections can be seen up in trees or sitting on the ground, depending on the severity of their disease. Distinctive things to look out for are the darker brown and stained rumps or squinting and inflamed eyes (top image)
Below are close-up images of the signs of chlamydia in koalas (images are of recent patients)
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Testing for Chlamydia
Chlamydia infections can be tested for by collecting swabs for DNA analysis. Here at the Adelaide Koala and Wildlife Centre we are fortunate to be able to test our swabs in-house. It takes about 30 minutes to run a chlamydia test and we run it on a Genie Machine. It works by recognising the chlamydial DNA, causing a reaction to amplify the signal and can be read by the machine over time. If you would like to help Adelaide Koala and Wildlife Centre with the cost of running this important but expensive test, please buy one of our testing kits online here.
Treatment for Chlamydia
After diagnosis of chlamydial infection occurs, the vet team at Adelaide Koala and Wildlife Centre need to fully assess the extent of the infection and any other illnesses or problems the koala has to determine the suitability for treatment. This includes
- ultrasonography of the bladder and reproductive tract
- blood tests for concurrent renal or other disease
- physical examination for dental disease and body condition
After establishing that it is in the best interest of the koala to treat their infection, the koala will receive antibiotics with close monitoring for the next two weeks. Hopefully ending with releasing the koala free from infection, back into the Adelaide hills or surrounding suburbs.
Below are some our success stories for treatment of chlamydia. Your donations help us treat koalas - to find out how you can donate, please go here to our donation page.
Want to purchase a virtual chlamydia test (which we will then use to treat a koala)? Visit our shop
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