2008-02-10 Manufacturing News

Web www.jobwerx.com jobwerx.tradepub.com

Philips CT Scanner to Help Save Population of Koalas

Philips CT scanner helps diagnose fatal fungal disease associated with eucalyptus for the population of Koalas in Australia.

Petra, a 13-year old koala from Sydney Wildlife World, is the first koala in Australia to be diagnosed with a Philips CT scanner.

The Koala is a treasured Australian icon, but if it is to be preserved, then a team of expert researchers at the University of Sydney Faculty of Veterinary Science will have to move fast.

A new 3-year research project to understand, treat and prevent chlamydiosis and cryptococcosis in koala populations has attracted a large Australian Research Council (ARC Linkage) grant and also drawn together a multidisciplinary research team and industry partners who are dedicated to working together to save this unique animal for future generations.

The Faculty of Veterinary Science at the University of Sydney has a long and productive history in wildlife disease studies, particularly in koalas. The principal investigators on this project bring a diverse range of expertise from pharmacology, clinical pathology, immunology and science to host pathogen-environment interactions.

Koala's scan. Click Here for High resolution image. photo: Courtesy of University of Sydney Wildlife World

Shown at left - Philips CT scan of Petra, a 13-year old koala from Sydney Wildlife World, shows she is suffering from a fungal disease in the nasal cavity associated with eucalyptus.

“Chlamydiosis and cryptococcosis are two common infectious diseases that are having an increasing impact on the health of threatened koala populations through high death rates and infertility,” says Dr. Mark Krockenberger, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney. “This project is an exciting opportunity to find out more about the development and progression of these diseases and to apply scientific rigour to their treatment and control, maximising the benefit to both individual animals and populations of koalas. The fact that the project has attracted such major research funding shows it to be research of national importance.”

Cryptococcosis causes rhinitis, pneumonia or meningitis in people and animals. The fungal organism causing this disease is widespread and has been found to colonise the nasal cavities of 30% to 100% of koalas in coastal New South Wales (NSW). Unlike C. neoformans, which predominately affects immunocompromised people, C.gattii causes disease in normal hosts including people, cats, dogs and koalas. Peculiarly, koalas and humans seem susceptible to infection through the association of C.gattii with certain eucalypts, and as the organism is most readily isolated from tree hollows, the use of these hollows by other fungi, insects, birds and arboreal marsupials may be contributing factors to the spread of the organism.

Koala going into Philips CT scanner. Click Here for High resolution image. photo: Courtesy of University of Sydney Wildlife World

Shown at right - Petra, a 13-year old koala from Sydney Wildlife World, is the first koala in Australia to be diagnosed with a Philips CT scanner. The CT scan will allow veterinarians to determine the extent of a fungal disease associated with eucalyptus. Unless treated, this infectious disease is always fatal.

No successful therapy of cryptococcosis in koalas has been reported. The project aims to determine the efficacy of antifungal drugs in clinical and subclinical cryptococcosis of koalas. Environmental factors encouraging the disease’s development will be investigated by looking at the temperature, humidity and other biological factors involved in the growth of the fungus, particularly in the hollows of Eucalyptus camaldulensis, the organism’s major environmental niche in Australia. Strategies will also be evaluated that could decrease the environmental presence of C. gattii in koala enclosures in zoos and wildlife parks through surface-acting environmental antifungal agents.

For further information please contact: Dr Mark Krockenberger, (02) 9351 2023 (Faculty of Veterinary Science, Building B14, University of Sydney, NSW 2006).

Click here for the best discounts on household, office and industrial products from Global Equipment. All featured items contain great instant rebates.

Read a recent article about -

. SABIC Innovative Plastics Helps Multigon Design Device to Detect Brain Injuries
A new portable Transcranial Doppler device from Multigon featues a polycarbonate-based material infused with stainless steel fibers from SABIC Innovative Plastics.

Got a Cool Job in Medical Devices?- Get the word out today! Our Dedicated Portal Helps U- $ave

E-mail this page to a friend

- First BASF Plant Science biotechnology agreement in China

- Small Quantity Specailist - Order Online - Plastics, Metals, Tool Steel and ...

- Changing Jobs? View a Wide Range of Real Estate Nationwide

. Online video-based training for job interview skills.

- Updated AdAware Release - #1 Anti-Spyware Protection - Buy it Now!

- Cucusoft Ultimate DVD Converter

- Golf Equipment Manufacturer -Buy Direct U-$ave Big!

- Start Today - Create on line tests, quizzes, assessments and exams in minutes

All Rights Reserved. For permission to reproduce any contents of this web site, please contact our Syndication department: Log onto HELP