The Epidemiology of <I>Koala Retrovirus</I>

DOI Web Site Web Site 1 Citations 21 References
  • Simmons Greg
    School of veterinary Science, University of Queensland, Gatton Campus
  • Young Paul
    School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia
  • McKee Jeff
    Ecosure, West Burleigh
  • Meers Joanne
    School of veterinary Science, University of Queensland, Gatton Campus
  • MIZUNO Tetsuo
    Australia-Japan Wildlife Conservation and Education Foundation, Pullenvale

Bibliographic Information

Other Title
  • コアラレトロウィルスの疫学
  • The epidemiology of Koala retrovirus
  • 和文要約 コアラレトロウィルスの疫学
  • ワブン ヨウヤク コアラレトロウィルス ノ エキガク

Search this article

Description

A novel Gammaretrovirus, named Koala retrovirus (KoRV) was identified in koalas in 2000. Subsequent testing has shown that KoRV appears to be widespread throughout the wild koala population in Australia. KoRV is apparently unique in that it is the only known example of an exogenous retrovirus which is actively undergoing the process of endogenisation. While there is currently little direct evidence that KoRV causes overt disease in koalas, it is possible or even likely that KoRV infection plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of various neoplasms and a variety of immunosuppressive disorders which are commonly diagnosed in koalas. It appears that KoRV may have arisen through the cross species transmission of a closely related retrovirus in a native Australian rodent, the grassland melomys. Both of these viruses are closely related to a third retrovirus, Gibbon ape leukaemia virus (GALV). GALV was first isolated in the late 1960's from captive gibbons in Thailand that were suffering from leukaemia. To date, the source of GALV remains unknown.

Journal

Citations (1)*help

See more

References(21)*help

See more

Keywords

Details 詳細情報について

Report a problem

Back to top