title: Identification of unusual Chlamydia pecorum genotypes in Victorian koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) and clinical variables associated with infection.
abstract: Chlamydia pecorum infection is a threat to the health of free-ranging koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) in Australia. Utilizing an extensive sample archive we determined the prevalence of C. pecorum in koalas within six regions of Victoria, Australia. The ompA genotypes of the detected C. pecorum were characterized to better understand the epidemiology of this pathogen in Victorian koalas. Despite many studies in northern Australia (i.e. Queensland and New South Wales), prior Chlamydia studies in Victorian koalas are limited. We detected C. pecorum in 125/820 (15 %) urogenital swabs, but in only one ocular swab. Nucleotide sequencing of the molecular marker C. pecorum ompA revealed that the majority (90/114) of C. pecorum samples typed were genotype B. This genotype has not been reported in northern koalas. In general, Chlamydia infection in Victorian koalas is associated with milder clinical signs compared with infection in koalas in northern populations. Although disease pathogenesis is likely to be multifactorial, the high prevalence of genotype B in Victoria may suggest it is less pathogenic. All but three koalas had C. pecorum genotypes unique to southern koala populations (i.e. Victoria and South Australia). These included a novel C. pecorum ompA genotype and two genotypes associated with livestock. Regression analysis determined that significant factors for the presence of C. pecorum infection were sex and geographical location. The presence of 'wet bottom' in males and the presence of reproductive tract pathology in females were significantly associated with C. pecorum infection, suggesting variation in clinical disease manifestations between sexes.
authors.affiliation: Asia Pacific Centre for Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne,Parkville, Victoria,Australia.
authors.forename: Alistair R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Legione
authors.affiliation: Asia Pacific Centre for Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne,Parkville, Victoria,Australia.|Veterinary Department, Melbourne Zoo,Parkville, Victoria,Australia.
authors.forename: Jade L S
authors.initials: JLS
authors.lastname: Patterson
authors.affiliation: Asia Pacific Centre for Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne,Parkville, Victoria,Australia.|Wildlife Health Surveillance Victoria, The University of Melbourne,Werribee, Victoria,Australia.
authors.forename: Pam L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Whiteley
authors.affiliation: Asia Pacific Centre for Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne,Parkville, Victoria,Australia.|Australian Wildlife Health Centre, Healesville Sanctuary, Healesville,Victoria,Australia.
authors.forename: Jemima
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Amery-Gale
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Department, Melbourne Zoo,Parkville, Victoria,Australia.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lynch
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne,Werribee, Victoria,Australia.
authors.forename: Leesa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Haynes
authors.affiliation: Centre for Equine Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne,Parkville, Victoria,Australia.
authors.forename: James R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Gilkerson
authors.affiliation: Centre for Animal Health Innovation, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs,Queensland,Australia.
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Polkinghorne
authors.affiliation: Asia Pacific Centre for Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne,Parkville, Victoria,Australia.
authors.forename: Joanne M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Devlin
authors.affiliation: Asia Pacific Centre for Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne,Parkville, Victoria,Australia.
authors.forename: Fiona M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Sansom
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002689:Chlamydia / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D005838:Genotype; D008297:Male; D008394:Marsupialia / Q000382:microbiology*; D014739:Victoria / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; C078167:OMPA outer membrane proteins