Cryptosporidium-associated enteritis in captive koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus).
Cryptosporidium
Phascolarctidae
disease
outbreak
parasite
protozoa
Journal
Australian veterinary journal
ISSN: 1751-0813
Titre abrégé: Aust Vet J
Pays: England
ID NLM: 0370616
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
11 Feb 2024
11 Feb 2024
Historique:
revised:
20
12
2023
received:
27
07
2023
accepted:
21
01
2024
medline:
12
2
2024
pubmed:
12
2
2024
entrez:
11
2
2024
Statut:
aheadofprint
Résumé
Cryptosporidium spp. sporadically infect a range of Australian native mammals including koalas, red kangaroos, eastern grey kangaroos, bilbies and brush tailed possums and can range from asymptomatic to fatal infections. Traditionally considered a disease of the young or immuno-compromised, and resulting in profuse diarrhoea in other species, here we report an atypical clinical syndrome associated with Cryptosporidium in a captive population of koalas. All affected animals were in-contact adults, and demonstrated anorexia, dehydration and abdominal pain in the absence of diarrhoea. Following euthanasia on welfare grounds, Cryptosporidium infection was confirmed postmortem in three of four symptomatic animals via faecal floatation and/or intestinal histopathology, with enteritis also diagnosed in the fourth koala. Further screening of the captive colony found the outbreak had been contained. Based on sequencing the cause of the infection was C. fayeri, but the source was undetermined. In conclusion, Cryptosporidium should be considered as a possible cause of generalised illness in koalas.
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Subventions
Organisme : Wildlife Health Australia
Informations de copyright
© 2024 Australian Veterinary Association.
Références
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