Prevalence and clinical significance of koala retrovirus in two South Australian koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) populations

Fabijan, Jessica; Miller, Diane; Olagoke, Olusola; Woolford, Lucy; Boardman, Wayne; Simmons, G. C.; Hemmatzadeh, Farhid; Trott, Darren J.; Speight, Natasha

doi:10.1099/jmm.0.001009

Cited by 22 publications

(45 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…KoRV‐A was detected using a 321 bp fragment and KoRV‐B with a 271 bp fragment of the en v gene . KoRV proviral load has also been previously reported, and was determined by qPCR with known standards of the pol gene (10 2 , 10 4 , 10 6 and 10 8 ) and normalised against the koala β‐actin gene, reported as KoRV proviral copies/10 3 β‐actin copies …”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 86%

“…Koalas were captured and transported to a nearby sampling site and anaesthetised for examination, by methods previously described . Koala age estimation by tooth wear class (TWC I–VII), based on the degree of wear of the upper right premolar for extent of attrition of labial crests and exposure of underlying dentine, body condition score (BCS; 1‐emaciated to 5‐excellent), oral health (see Oral Health Index [OHI] in the following) and sex were recorded.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…KoRV status for this sample cohort was determined . Briefly, DNA was extracted from whole blood and used in a nested‐conventional PCR to detect a 508 bp fragment and consecutive internal 203 bp fragment of the KoRV pol gene.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Variants of KoRV, KoRV‐A to KoRV‐J, as determined by differences in the KoRV envelope gene, have been detected at high levels in Queensland koalas, while in South Australian koalas, KoRV‐A was the dominant variant type and other variants were detected at lower levels . Additionally, only KoRV‐A and not KoRV‐B was detected in wild South Australian koalas by PCR, suggesting KoRV‐A is the dominant infection in this population . In northern koalas, exogenous KoRV‐B infection may cause immunosuppression and has been associated with the development of chlamydiosis due to secondary Chlamydia pecorum infection .…”

mentioning

confidence: 92%

“…In northern koalas, exogenous KoRV‐B infection may cause immunosuppression and has been associated with the development of chlamydiosis due to secondary Chlamydia pecorum infection . While South Australian koalas with concurrent KoRV (all variants) and C. pecorum infections were over three times more likely to develop chlamydial disease . Therefore, if KoRV infection affects the koala's immune response to C. pecorum infection, this may also occur to the oral bacteria that initiate PD.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Periodontal disease in free‐ranging koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) from the Mount Lofty Ranges, South Australia, and its association with koala retrovirus infection

et al. 2020

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Background In northern Australian koala populations (Queensland and New South Wales), periodontal disease (gingivitis and periodontitis) is common while koala retrovirus subtype A is endogenous, with other subtypes transmitted exogenously. Koala retrovirus has been hypothesised to cause immune suppression and may predispose koalas to diseases caused by concurrent infections. In southern Australia populations (Victoria and South Australia) periodontal disease has not been investigated, and koala retrovirus is presumably exogenously transmitted. This study described oral health in South Australian koalas and investigated if an association between periodontal disease and koala retrovirus exists. Methods Oral health was examined for wild‐caught koalas from the Mount Lofty Ranges (n = 75). Koala retrovirus provirus was detected in whole blood using nested PCR and proviral load determined with qPCR. Periodontal disease severity was recorded and used to calculate the Final Oral Health Index (0‐normal, 24‐severe).Results Periodontal disease was observed in 84% (63/75) of koalas; 77% had gingivitis (58/75) and 65% (49/75) had periodontitis. The average Final Oral Health Index was 5.47 (s.d 3.13). Most cases of periodontal disease were associated with the incisors. Koala retrovirus‐infected koalas were more likely to present with periodontitis (p = 0.042) and the Final Oral Health Index was negatively correlated with proviral load (ρ = −0.353, p = 0.017). Conclusion South Australian koalas had a high prevalence of gingivitis and periodontitis. Periodontal disease was more prevalent in the incisors. Exogenous koala retrovirus infection may also facilitate the development of periodontitis by modulation of the immune response to concurrent oral bacterial infections.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 86%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 92%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Periodontal disease in free‐ranging koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) from the Mount Lofty Ranges, South Australia, and its association with koala retrovirus infection

et al. 2020

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Koala retrovirus epidemiology, transmission mode, pathogenesis, and host immune response in koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus): a review

2020

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Koala retrovirus (KoRV) is a major threat to koala health and conservation. It also represents a series of challenges across the fields of virology, immunology, and epidemiology that are of great potential interest to any researcher in the field of retroviral diseases. KoRV is a gammaretrovirus that is present in both endogenous and exogenous forms in koala populations, with a still-active endogenization process. KoRV may induce immunosuppression and neoplastic conditions such as lymphoma and leukemia and play a role in chlamydiosis and other diseases in koalas. KoRV transmission modes, pathogenesis, and host immune response still remain unclear, and a clear understanding of these areas is critical for devising effective preventative and therapeutic strategies. Research on KoRV is clearly critical for koala conservation. In this review, we provide an overview of the current understanding and future challenges related to KoRV epidemiology, transmission mode, pathogenesis, and host immune response and discuss prospects for therapeutic and preventive vaccines.

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Investigation of koala retrovirus in captive koalas with pneumonia and comparative analysis of subtype distribution

Akter,

Hashem,

Rakib

et al. 2023

Arch Virol

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Prevalence and clinical significance of koala retrovirus in two South Australian koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) populations

Cited by 22 publications

References 32 publications

Periodontal disease in free‐ranging koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) from the Mount Lofty Ranges, South Australia, and its association with koala retrovirus infection

Periodontal disease in free‐ranging koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) from the Mount Lofty Ranges, South Australia, and its association with koala retrovirus infection

Koala retrovirus epidemiology, transmission mode, pathogenesis, and host immune response in koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus): a review

Investigation of koala retrovirus in captive koalas with pneumonia and comparative analysis of subtype distribution

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