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THE DIAGNOSIS AND EPIDEMIOLOGY OF AN INFERTILITY DISEASE IN THE FEMALE KOALA
Author(s) -
Brown Anthony S.,
Carrick Frank N.,
Gordon Greg,
Reynolds Kira
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
veterinary radiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.541
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1740-8261
pISSN - 0196-3627
DOI - 10.1111/j.1740-8261.1984.tb01938.x
Subject(s) - biology , reproductive tract , pyometra , incidence (geometry) , etiology , epidemiology , infertility , zoology , anatomy , pathology , medicine , uterus , pregnancy , physics , optics , genetics , endocrinology
A radiographic technique, incorporating pneumoperitoneum, was developed to aid in identification of cyst‐like structures in the reproductive tract of female koalas. These lesions, including pyometra and fluid‐filled cysts associated with the upper reproductive tract, were viewed as radiopacities with clearly demarcated margins lateral to the caudal lumbar vertebrae. This technique provided a means of assessing with a high degree of reliability the incidence and distribution of this condition in various populations of koalas throughout eastern and southern Australia. A radiographic survey of 237 adult female koalas revealed a 43% (101/237) incidence of this condition, which is closely correlated with the lack of reproductive success observed in some populations of koalas in the wild. Although the etiology of this condition is little understood at present, the isolation of Chlamydia psittaci from the reproductive tracts of affected koalas, both male and female, is recorded.