Australia Authorizes First-Ever Vaccine to Protect Koalas from Chlamydia

(MENAFN) Australia has granted approval for the world’s first vaccine aimed at protecting endangered koalas from chlamydia, a disease that has ravaged wild populations of the beloved marsupial.

The vaccine, developed by the University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC) over the past decade, received authorization from the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority. This marks a critical milestone in efforts to combat the widespread impact of chlamydia on koalas, according to a statement released by UniSC on Wednesday.

Chlamydia, transmitted primarily during mating, can lead to severe urinary tract infections, infertility, blindness, and death. Infection rates in some areas can soar to 70 percent, the statement noted.

A comprehensive study spearheaded by UniSC demonstrated that the vaccine significantly lowered the chances of koalas developing chlamydia symptoms during their breeding years. Furthermore, it decreased mortality from the disease in wild koala populations by at least 65 percent.

The single-dose vaccine has been approved for use in wildlife hospitals, veterinary clinics, and directly in the field, according to Professor Peter Timms, a microbiology expert at UniSC.

“We knew a single-dose vaccine, with no need for a booster, was the answer to reducing the rapid, devastating spread of this disease, which accounts for as much as half of koala deaths across all wild populations in Australia,” Timms stated.

Previously, antibiotics were the only option for treating chlamydia in koalas, but they often cause significant digestive issues by interfering with the marsupial’s ability to process eucalyptus leaves—their primary food source—leading to malnutrition and even death. Additionally, antibiotics rarely prevented reinfection.

After a decade of clinical trials, which included multiple rounds of vaccination testing, the vaccine’s safety and efficacy have been firmly established, according to UniSC.

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