Stress and retrovirus increase koala disease susceptibility

Koalas are facing a deadly epidemic linked to stress and a retrovirus, making them more vulnerable to diseases like chlamydia. Researchers found high KoRV loads weaken koala immune systems, increasing susceptibility to chlamydia, which causes blindness, infertility, and death. Habitat loss exacerbates stress, correlating with higher virus levels. Conservation efforts now focus on habitat preservation, selective breeding for low KoRV loads, and exploring antiviral treatments to improve koala survival rates.