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SYDNEY, Sept. 7 (Xinhua) – Scientists at the Australian University of Queensland (UQ) have discovered the ability of a deadly koala disease to be passed between parents and their offspring, revealing a new dimension to the threat to on this iconic Australian marsupial, according to research unveiled on Tuesday.
Associate Professor Keith Chappell, of UQ’s School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, said the virus, known as the koala retrovirus (KoRV), exposes the koala’s immune system to various diseases, including cancer and chlamydia.
“The virus causes a weakened immune system, which probably makes it much more difficult for koalas to cope with these other already damaging environmental stressors… like climate change and habitat loss,” Chappell said.
The discovery, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, was made after scientists sequenced variations in the virus’s DNA in 109 koalas – “we finally revealed how the virus spreads – from mother to Joey “.
The virus can be particularly devastating for koala populations, as exposure to chlamydia can make females infertile and cause bladder and eye problems that add to the difficulty of foraging and avoiding predators. .
A 2017 study also from the university found that koala populations in parts of Queensland had been reduced by around 80 percent from 1997 to 2013.
One of the main causes of death that led to this sharp decline in the population was the spread of disease, and in particular chlamydia.
Lead author Briony Joyce, PhD candidate, said the research “will pave the way for evidence-based conservation” and may lead to rethinking how koala conservation is done in Australia.
Its scope will be particularly relevant in the Australian states of New South Wales and Queensland, where koalas are most affected by the disease.
“This work will be very informative for koala conservation, as it suggests that captive breeding programs focused on mothers who have a low amount of retrovirus variants, could result in healthier animals to release,” he said. Joyce said.
She also proposed treating populations in the wild to reduce the rate of transmission to new generations.
“In addition, we propose that antiretroviral therapy – if proven safe in koala bears and effective against KoRV – could be used specifically in mothers during breeding seasons to prevent transmission.”
“We must do all we can to ensure the survival of this culturally important species.” Final element
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