Melbourne, Sep 12 (AP) A pioneering vaccine designed to shield koalas from the devastating effects of chlamydia has been given the green light by a regulatory body, marking a significant step forward in efforts to protect the endangered species. Chlamydia has been a leading cause of infertility and mortality among these iconic animals in certain regions of Australia.
Developed after more than ten years of dedicated research by the University of the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, the single-dose vaccine was spearheaded by microbiology professor Peter Timms. Studies have revealed that the vaccine can significantly reduce the chances of koalas exhibiting symptoms of chlamydia during their breeding years, leading to a reduction in mortality rates by at least 65% among wild populations.
The recent approval by Australia's veterinary medicine regulator signifies that the vaccine can now be administered in wildlife hospitals, veterinary clinics, and the field to safeguard the most vulnerable koala populations, as Timms explained on Wednesday.
"We recognized that a single-dose vaccine — negating the need for a booster — was essential in curbing the swift and destructive progression of this disease, which accounts for up to half of the fatalities among wild koala populations in Australia," Timms stated.
He added, "Some colonies are nearing local extinction with each passing day, particularly in areas like southeast Queensland and New South Wales, where infection rates within populations are alarmingly high, sometimes reaching 70%."
However, Deborah Tabart, chairperson of the Australian Koala Foundation, has argued that resources should instead be focused on preserving koala habitats rather than on vaccination efforts.
"Without intending to sound dismissive, it's unreasonable to believe that vaccinating 100,000 animals is feasible," Tabart said on Friday. Her foundation estimates fewer than 100,000 koalas remain in the wild, although a government-backed program estimated last year that numbers range between 224,000 and 524,000.
Tabart emphasized, "While I acknowledge that chlamydia is a concern for koalas, it's crucial for people to understand that their poor health is a direct result of habitat loss."
The Queensland Conservation Council, representing over 50 environmental groups, welcomed the vaccine's introduction. However, its director, Dave Copeman, also highlighted the critical importance of habitat preservation.
"It's truly positive news. Chlamydia is a significant pressure on koala populations," Copeman noted. "Nevertheless, koalas were under threat even before the chlamydia outbreaks, and they will continue to be at risk unless we address the ongoing destruction of their habitats," he added.
The states of Queensland, New South Wales, and the Australian Capital Territory have all designated koalas as endangered, primarily due to habitat destruction from wildfires and urban development. Chlamydia further exacerbates their plight by causing issues such as urinary tract infections, infertility, blindness, and death.
While antibiotics are available for treatment, they can disrupt a koala's ability to process its only food source, eucalyptus leaves, potentially leading to starvation, as noted by the university.
The vaccine research received financial backing from the federal, New South Wales, and Queensland governments. Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt highlighted the government's commitment through the AU$76 million ($50 million) Saving Koalas Fund.
"Koalas need assistance in combating diseases like chlamydia, which pose a widespread threat impacting their reproductive health and causing infertility," Watt mentioned.
Koalas, iconic among Australian wildlife alongside wombats and kangaroos, predominantly reside in eucalyptus trees, utilizing their two opposing thumbs to grasp and ascend trunks.
Over the last two decades, Australia's wild koala populations have experienced dramatic declines. With the compounded risks of disease, habitat loss, climate change, and road collisions, koalas are at risk of extinction by 2050, according to a 2020 assessment from the New South Wales government.
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