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Koala chlamydia: Australia approves vaccine to curb killer epidemic Koala chlamydia: Australia approves vaccine to curb killer epidemic
(about 4 hours later)
Watch: Researchers ‘hopeful’ after koala chlamydia vaccine approvalWatch: Researchers ‘hopeful’ after koala chlamydia vaccine approval
A vaccine which could save Australia's endangered koala population from a rampant chlamydia epidemic has been approved for rollout for the first time.A vaccine which could save Australia's endangered koala population from a rampant chlamydia epidemic has been approved for rollout for the first time.
University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC) scientists have spent more than a decade developing a jab to curb the spread of the disease, which has decimated wild koala populations across most of eastern Australia.University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC) scientists have spent more than a decade developing a jab to curb the spread of the disease, which has decimated wild koala populations across most of eastern Australia.
"Some individual wild colonies, where infection rate can be as high as 70%, are edging closer to extinction every day," Dr Peter Timms said. "Some individual wild colonies, where infection rate can be as high as 70%, are edging closer to extinction every day," Peter Timms said.
With approval from regulators now secured, he said the team hoped for major funding to distribute the vaccine to wildlife hospitals, vet clinics and koalas in the wild.With approval from regulators now secured, he said the team hoped for major funding to distribute the vaccine to wildlife hospitals, vet clinics and koalas in the wild.
Dr Timms, who specialises in microbiology, said the single-dose vaccine - without the need for a booster - was the ideal solution to stop the "rapid, devastating spread of this disease, which accounts for as much as half of koala deaths across wild populations". "It has been a long road... There's been points along the pathway I think we nearly gave up," Dr Timms, a microbiologist, said.
Apart from being potentially fatal, chlamydia - which is transmitted by close contact or mating - can also cause painful urinary tract infections, conjunctivitis, blindness and infertility in koalas. "Today's a very exciting day."
Chlamydia - which is transmitted by close contact or mating - can cause painful urinary tract infections, conjunctivitis, blindness and infertility in koalas, and is often fatal.
Both male and female koalas can contract the disease, which is a different strain to the one found in humans, while joeys can catch it through feeding in their mother's pouch.Both male and female koalas can contract the disease, which is a different strain to the one found in humans, while joeys can catch it through feeding in their mother's pouch.
Koalas infected with chlamydia are usually given antibiotics but the treatment means they cannot digest eucalyptus leaves - their only food source - leading to starvation and sometimes death. But treatment can be deadly too. Koalas infected with chlamydia are usually given antibiotics, but this destroys the gut bacteria which allow them to digest eucalyptus leaves - their primary food source - and can lead to starvation.
The much-loved national icon has faced increasing threats to its wild populations across much of eastern Australia in recent decades, from factors including land clearing, natural disasters, feral pests and urbanisation.The much-loved national icon has faced increasing threats to its wild populations across much of eastern Australia in recent decades, from factors including land clearing, natural disasters, feral pests and urbanisation.
But chlamydia has been the biggest killer and claimed thousands of koalas. Some estimate only 50,000 remain in the wild, and there are now fears the animals will be extinct in some states within a generation. Chlamydia, however, has been the biggest killer - accounting for as much as 50% of deaths and claiming thousands of koalas. Some estimate only 50,000 of the animals remain in the wild, and there are fears they will be extinct in some states within a generation.
The vaccine's approval by Australian regulators is based on a decade-long study of clinical trials, which the university described as the largest and longest ever study of wild koalas. UniSC's single-dose chlamydia vaccine has been tested on hundreds of wild koalas, and its approval by federal regulators was based on analysis of a decade's worth of those trials - a study the university described as the largest and longest ever conducted on wild koalas.
"This study found [the vaccine] reduced the likelihood of koalas developing symptoms of chlamydia during breeding age and decreased mortality from the disease in wild populations by at least 65%," said UniSC's Dr Sam Phillips, who led the research. Chlamydia is one of the main extinction drivers for koalas
This latest development comes a day after the New South Wales (NSW) government announced 176,000 hectares of state forest would be reserved for a proposed Great Koala National Park. "This study found [the vaccine] reduced the likelihood of koalas developing symptoms of chlamydia during breeding age and decreased mortality from the disease in wild populations by at least 65%," said UniSC's Sam Phillips.
The park's aim is to "ensure koalas survive into the future so our grandchildren will still be able to see them in the wild", said NSW Environment Minister Penny Sharpe. The research team hopes to provide the vaccine for free, and that roll-out can begin as early as January next year, starting with wildlife hospitals and the most at-risk populations.
It is estimated it will protect more than 12,000 koalas as well as provide a habitat for more than 100 other threatened species. But treating chlamydia is extremely expensive, and locating, catching, and inoculating wild koalas even more costly, so the team doesn't yet have the money to realise those dreams.
"To get funding now, so that we can do this next phrase where the vaccine actually becomes a reality... not just a trial, would be a pretty amazing thing," Dr Timms said.
Though excited, he also stressed that the vaccine alone is not enough to save the species. The other factors driving koalas towards extinction must also be addressed, he said.
"Habitat loss is the most important thing - if you haven't got a tree nothing much else matters."
In a statement, the Environment Minister Murray Watt said the vaccine would help ensure that generations to come will still be able to see koalas in the wild, but that the government was also focused on species monitoring and habitat restoration.
Earlier this week, the New South Wales government announced that another 176,000 hectares - an area about the size of Greater London - would be added to existing nature reserves to create the Great Koala National Park, which it promised at an election two years ago.
It is estimated the new park will protect more than 12,000 koalas, and also provide a habitat for more than 100 other threatened species.