Diversity and transmission of koala retrovirus: a case study in three captive koala populations
Abstract Koala retrovirus is a recently endogenized retrovirus associated with the onset of neoplasia and infectious disease in koalas. There are currently twelve described KoRV subtypes (KoRV-A to I, K–M), most of which were identified through recently implemented deep sequencing methods which reve...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2022-09-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-18939-6 |
| _version_ | 1818016733088186368 |
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| author | Briony A. Joyce Michaela D. J. Blyton Stephen D. Johnston William D. Meikle Kimberly Vinette Herrin Claire Madden Paul R. Young Keith J. Chappell |
| author_facet | Briony A. Joyce Michaela D. J. Blyton Stephen D. Johnston William D. Meikle Kimberly Vinette Herrin Claire Madden Paul R. Young Keith J. Chappell |
| author_sort | Briony A. Joyce |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Koala retrovirus is a recently endogenized retrovirus associated with the onset of neoplasia and infectious disease in koalas. There are currently twelve described KoRV subtypes (KoRV-A to I, K–M), most of which were identified through recently implemented deep sequencing methods which reveal an animals’ overall KoRV profile. This approach has primarily been carried out on wild koala populations around Australia, with few investigations into the whole-population KoRV profile of captive koala colonies to date. This study conducted deep sequencing on 64 captive koalas of known pedigree, housed in three institutions from New South Wales and South-East Queensland, to provide a detailed analysis of KoRV genetic diversity and transmission. The final dataset included 93 unique KoRV sequences and the first detection of KoRV-E within Australian koala populations. Our analysis suggests that exogenous transmission of KoRV-A, B, D, I and K primarily occurs between dam and joey. Detection of KoRV-D in a neonate sample raises the possibility of this transmission occurring in utero. Overall, the prevalence and abundance of KoRV subtypes was found to vary considerably between captive populations, likely due to their different histories of animal acquisition. Together these findings highlight the importance of KoRV profiling for captive koalas, in particular females, who play a primary role in KoRV exogenous transmission. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-14T07:17:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-42c63e3be50c484a801c6010e4ec9883 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-14T07:17:45Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-42c63e3be50c484a801c6010e4ec98832022-12-22T02:06:16ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222022-09-011211810.1038/s41598-022-18939-6Diversity and transmission of koala retrovirus: a case study in three captive koala populationsBriony A. Joyce0Michaela D. J. Blyton1Stephen D. Johnston2William D. Meikle3Kimberly Vinette Herrin4Claire Madden5Paul R. Young6Keith J. Chappell7School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of QueenslandSchool of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of QueenslandSchool of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of QueenslandWILD LIFE Sydney ZooTaronga Wildlife HospitalSea World and Paradise CountrySchool of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of QueenslandSchool of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of QueenslandAbstract Koala retrovirus is a recently endogenized retrovirus associated with the onset of neoplasia and infectious disease in koalas. There are currently twelve described KoRV subtypes (KoRV-A to I, K–M), most of which were identified through recently implemented deep sequencing methods which reveal an animals’ overall KoRV profile. This approach has primarily been carried out on wild koala populations around Australia, with few investigations into the whole-population KoRV profile of captive koala colonies to date. This study conducted deep sequencing on 64 captive koalas of known pedigree, housed in three institutions from New South Wales and South-East Queensland, to provide a detailed analysis of KoRV genetic diversity and transmission. The final dataset included 93 unique KoRV sequences and the first detection of KoRV-E within Australian koala populations. Our analysis suggests that exogenous transmission of KoRV-A, B, D, I and K primarily occurs between dam and joey. Detection of KoRV-D in a neonate sample raises the possibility of this transmission occurring in utero. Overall, the prevalence and abundance of KoRV subtypes was found to vary considerably between captive populations, likely due to their different histories of animal acquisition. Together these findings highlight the importance of KoRV profiling for captive koalas, in particular females, who play a primary role in KoRV exogenous transmission.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-18939-6 |
| spellingShingle | Briony A. Joyce Michaela D. J. Blyton Stephen D. Johnston William D. Meikle Kimberly Vinette Herrin Claire Madden Paul R. Young Keith J. Chappell Diversity and transmission of koala retrovirus: a case study in three captive koala populations Scientific Reports |
| title | Diversity and transmission of koala retrovirus: a case study in three captive koala populations |
| title_full | Diversity and transmission of koala retrovirus: a case study in three captive koala populations |
| title_fullStr | Diversity and transmission of koala retrovirus: a case study in three captive koala populations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Diversity and transmission of koala retrovirus: a case study in three captive koala populations |
| title_short | Diversity and transmission of koala retrovirus: a case study in three captive koala populations |
| title_sort | diversity and transmission of koala retrovirus a case study in three captive koala populations |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-18939-6 |
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