Researchers have been pondering the question “Why do some koalas die from Chlamydia and an AIDs-like retrovirus where as others manage to avid contracting the sexually transmitted diseases?” Well the use of condoms were obviously not the reason, it seems the answer lies rather with genetics. Unfortunately public health officials will not be able to claim responsibility for the decrease in STD’s in Koalas. Scientists based in Australia have found a gene they call the “interferon gamma (IFN-g) gene” that appears to help boost koala immune systems.
While koalas contracting Chlamydia seems to be rather comical, it is actually leading the population towards extinction at an alarming rate. Over half of the koalas in nature have Chlamydia. Chlamydia can lead to infertility, infections, blindness and death. The infection with Chlamydia also opens the door for an AID’s-like retrovirus called immunity-compromising koala retrovirus (KoRV). This combination is proving especially dangerous to these cute and cuddly animals, which actually smell surprisingly good. Koalas have now been placed on the threatened species list. Populations have dropped by at least forty percent, as high as eighty percent in some areas.
Scientists were surprised to find that the koalas in the state of Victoria seemed to be rather unaffected by these diseases. Recent research has reveled that these koalas have the IFN-g gene that allows them to have a much higher natural immunity to these infections. It is possible that this gene may be able to be developed into a vaccination. Researchers hope to be able to develop an effective vaccination or treatment within a few years in hopes of saving koalas.
Original Article- http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/extinction-countdown/2013/04/16/chlamydia-killing-koalas-genetics-cure/
Additional Article- http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/apr/21/koala-deaths-chlamydia-retrovirus-vaccine-genome
I had no idea that this was an issue. Very interesting article!
ReplyDeleteHopefully in the few years it takes them to develop a vaccince the populations do not continue to drop like they have been. 40-80% is alot and is not sustainable. By time they come up with a vaccince it may be hard to find ones that are not infected already. I wonder if breeding a koala carrying this disease with one with the IFN-g gene would create a better immunity in the offspring?
ReplyDeleteOh no, Australia's most cherished marsupial, the koala, is in danger of becoming extinct in the wild within 30 years after an outbreak of chlamydia. This is so sad. Overdevelopment, disease, climate change, and sexual disease are killing off the species.
ReplyDeleteI really would have never guessed that this would be a reason koalas would become extinct from. Hopefully they can find a way to make sure they save the koalas from this!
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