Disease relevance of Phascolarctidae

• Tannin-protein complex-degrading enterobacteria isolated from the alimentary tracts of koalas and a selective medium for their enumeration [1].
• Phenotypic characterization of CO2-requiring strains of Streptococcus bovis from koalas [2].
• Dietary aluminium and renal failure in the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) [3].
• Findings by White and Timms (1994) that male koalas can be infected with Chlamydia psittaci emphasise the importance of studies on male animals and in particular their reproductive system [4].
• Association of uterine and salpingeal fibrosis with chlamydial hsp60 and hsp10 antigen-specific antibodies in Chlamydia-infected koalas [5].

High impact information on Phascolarctidae

• Positional distribution of acyl and alk-1-enyl groups in grey and white matter ethanolamine and choline phosphoglycerides of a marsupial, the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) [6].
• In the present study, the cloning, expression and characterization of the rate-limiting enzyme of the peroxisomal beta-oxidation spiral, acyl CoA oxidase (AOX), from koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) liver is described [7].
• Identification and cloning of two forms of liver peroxisomal fatty Acyl CoA Oxidase from the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) [7].
• However, as in humans, some koalas with tubal occlusion had low titers [5].
• It was concluded that renal failure in the koalas of the Adelaide Hills is characterised by the presence of aluminium in the kidneys and bone and it is probably related to the high levels of aluminium in their restricted diet of eucalypt leaves [3].

Chemical compound and disease context of Phascolarctidae

• No aluminium was found in koalas that died from causes other than renal failure [3].

Biological context of Phascolarctidae

• Microsomal metabolism and enzyme kinetics of the terpene p-cymene in the common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula), koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) and rat [8].
• Genetic variation of mitochondrial cytochrome b genes among the subspecies of koala, Phascolarctos cinereus [9].
• On the basis of these findings a minimal profile is suggested for the investigation of sick koalas and would include haematocrit, total and differential leukocyte counts, urea, total protein and albumin concentrations and AST, GGT and LD activities [10].

Anatomical context of Phascolarctidae

• From these observations, a selective agar plate medium (vancomycin- and tannin-treated Wilkins-Chalgren anaerobe agar) was developed to enumerate T-PCDE isolated from the feces of koalas [1].
• Semen from seven koalas was extended in a tris-citrate glucose diluent containing one of four antibiotics at different concentrations and then contaminated with a standard concentration of chlamydiae [11].
• 1. This study reports on the pathways of metabolism and enzyme kinetics of the Eucalyptus terpene, 1,8-cineole, by liver microsomes from the brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) and koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) (animals that normally include this terpene in their diet), rat and human [12].
• We have investigated 11beta-HSD 1 activity in the Australian koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) and have found no activity (either reductive or oxidative) in hepatic microsomes [13].

Associations of Phascolarctidae with chemical compounds

• Microsomal metabolism of the terpene 1,8-cineole in the common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula), koala (Phascolarctos cinereus), rat and human [12].
• Formalin-fixed conjunctival and urogenital (urinary bladder, urogenital sinus and prostate or penis, or both) samples obtained from 29 free-living koalas were examined histopathologically and immunohistochemically for the presence and character of inflammation and for evidence of chlamydiae [14].
• Similarly, DTH responses to DNFB could be elicited in vivo, but took a relatively long time to develop and the PMC of the sensitised koalas were unresponsive to the sensitising antigen in vitro [15].
• They allowed collection of blood samples without assistance or disturbance in koalas, and without stress as reflected by plasma cortisol concentration [16].
• Fructosamine concentration did not allow the diabetic koala to be distinguished from healthy koalas and concentrations of all koala analytes were greater than expected for healthy dogs and people [17].

Gene context of Phascolarctidae

• Elevated enzymes (aspartate transaminase [AST]. lactate dehydrogenase [LD] and gamma glutamyl transferase [GGT]) were more common in koalas with lymphosarcoma [10].
• We have examined variability in TaqI and EcoRI restriction fragment sizes of DNA from the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) using six HVR (hypervariable region) probes which reveal complex, individual-specific restriction patterns in humans and other species [18].
• A peracute syndrome characterized by lassitude, depression, anorexia and coma was identified in moribund koalas submitted from the wild and also in hospitalized animals [19].

Analytical, diagnostic and therapeutic context of Phascolarctidae

• Southern blot analysis of liver genomic DNA samples revealed a single AOX gene fragment of less than 14 kb in koalas, rat and humans, suggesting a single AOX gene [7].

References