Necropsy findings of koalas from the Mount Lofty Ranges population in South Australia.

OBJECTIVE: This study reports necropsy findings of koalas from the Mount Lofty Ranges region in order to identify health threats to this mainland South Australian population. METHODS: Koalas from the Mount Lofty Ranges region (n = 85) that had died or been euthanased on welfare grounds were examined at necropsy during 2012-13 at the School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Adelaide. Disease findings, approximate age, sex and body condition of koalas were recorded. Histopathological examination was undertaken on gross lesions and in suspect cases, skin scrapings taken for microscopy and PCR performed for Chlamydia pecorum detection. RESULTS: Traumatic injury was the most common necropsy finding (48/85; 57%), caused by motor vehicle accidents (35/48; 73%), canine attacks (11/48; 23%) or bushfire burns (2/48; 4%). Oxalate nephrosis (27/85; 32%) was also more common than other conditions. Infectious diseases included chlamydiosis (10/85; 12%) and sarcoptic mange (7/85; 8%). Marked testis asymmetry was evident in 11% (6/56) of males, with histopathology suggestive of atrophic change in four animals. Other pathological conditions included gastrointestinal disease (7/85; 8%) and respiratory disease (3/85; 4%). Almost half of the koalas (38/85; 45%) were found to have two or more abnormalities at necropsy. CONCLUSION: This study found trauma, mainly from motor vehicle accidents, and oxalate nephrosis to be the predominant causes of death and/or disease in koalas from the Mount Lofty Ranges region. Recent emergence of both clinical chlamydiosis and sarcoptic mange has also occurred, providing insight into the health status and causes of disease or injury in this South Australian mainland koala population.

Outbreaks of sarcoptic mange in free-ranging koala populations in Victoria and South Australia: a case series.

OBJECTIVE: To describe outbreaks of sarcoptic mange caused by Sarcoptes scabiei in free-ranging koalas in Victoria (December 2008 to November 2015) and South Australia (October 2011 to September 2014). METHODS: Koalas affected by mange-like lesions were reported by wildlife carers, veterinary practitioners or State Government personnel to the Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences at The University of Melbourne and the School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences at The University of Adelaide. Skin scrapings were taken from live and dead koalas and S. scabiei mites were identified. Tissues from necropsied koalas were examined histologically. RESULTS: Outbreaks of sarcoptic mange were found to occur in koalas from both Victoria (n = 29) and South Australia (n = 29) for the first time. The gross pathological and histopathological changes are described. CONCLUSION: We present the first reported cases of sarcoptic mange outbreaks in free-ranging koalas.

Unusual presentation of neosporosis in a neonatal puppy from a litter of bulldogs.

CASE REPORT: A 17-day-old Bulldog puppy died soon after presentation for weakness and tachypnoea. Gross lesions included diffuse pulmonary oedema and a region of myocardial pallor that resembled an infarct. Inflammation was observed histopathologically in many organs, with numerous clusters of intracellular protozoa that stained positively using Neospora caninum immunohistochemistry. Myocarditis was severe and had associated necrosis of individual myocytes, but the tissue was not infarcted. The bitch had an antibody titre of 1 : 1600 for N. caninum. All six littermates were sold and reported to be healthy at 6 months of age. CONCLUSION: Unusual aspects of this case include the occurrence of clinical disease in only 1 of 7 neonatal puppies, widespread dissemination of the organism in multiple tissues, and regional pallor associated with myocarditis that gave a false gross appearance of infarction. This report also adds Bulldogs to the list of dog breeds shown to be susceptible to clinical neosporosis.

Anaesthesia for lambs undergoing spinal surgery: a case series.

Six 1-month-old lambs were anaesthetized for cervical spinal cord surgery. Anaesthesia was induced with intravenous midazolam (0.5 mg/kg) then halothane delivered by mask in an O2-N2O mixture. After endotracheal intubation, the lungs were ventilated mechanically and anaesthesia maintained with halothane and nitrous oxide. Buprenorphine and flunixin were given before and after surgery, and the wound margin was infiltrated with 0.5% bupivacaine solution. Neuromuscular block was produced with repeated injections of atracurium; neuromuscular transmission was restored with edrophonium. Lambs made a rapid recovery without obvious signs of discomfort, sedation, or weakness after operations lasting up to 156 min. Anaesthesia was induced in a seventh lamb using etomidate, which probably contributed to death during recovery from anaesthesia.