Serum Antibody Response to Koala Retrovirus Antigens Varies in Free-Ranging Koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) in Australia: Implications for Vaccine Design
Courtney Waugh,1 Amber Gillett,2 Adam Polkinghorne,1 and Peter Timms1,3
1University of the Sunshine Coast, Locked Bag 4, Maroochydore DC, Queensland, 4558 Australia
2Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital, Steve Irwin Way, Beerwah, Queensland, 4519 Australia;
3Corresponding author (email: )
ABSTRACT
Little is known about the immune response in the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) to its retroviruses. Koala retroviruses (KoRVs) have been linked to neoplasia in wild and captive koalas, but there is no treatment available. We tested the KoRV-specific serum immunoglobulin G antibody response in nonimmunized and immunized koalas.