Fact Sheets

Wildlife Health Australia’s Fact Sheets contain brief, factual information on a wide range of diseases, both infectious and non-infectious, that impact Australian wildlife and feral animals. Information focuses on implications of disease for free-ranging native wildlife, although impacts on humans, domestic and feral animals are included to provide a One Health perspective. Diseases of relevance to Australian wildlife that are exotic to Australia, or zoonotic (transmitted from an animal to a human) are also included. There are also several Fact Sheets on topics of general interest to wildlife health.

Wildlife Health Australia welcomes your feedback on Fact Sheets. Please email admin@wildlifehealthaustralia.com.au. We would also like to hear from you if you have a particular area of expertise and are interested in creating or updating a WHA Fact Sheet. A small amount of funding is available to facilitate this.

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All

Adenovirus infection in bearded dragons - May 2019

Adenoviral hepatitis is a common cause of neonatal and juvenile mortality in bearded dragons (Pogona spp.) in the USA. Adenovirus has been reported in captive and free-living  dragons in...
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Angiostrongylus and Australian wildlife - Nov 2019

Angiostrongylus cantonensis, the rat lungworm, occurs in introduced rats and can cause neurological disease in mammalian and bird hosts. It is a zoonosis. Marsupials and flying-foxes are highly...
Open

Anthrax in Australian wildlife - Sep 2016

In Australia, anthrax is primarily considered a disease of livestock. There is no evidence of anthrax infection of wild or free-ranging animals in Australia. However, given its host range, anthrax...
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Antimicrobial resistance and Australian wildlife - Jul 2019

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is recognized as an issue of emerging global importance. Antimicrobial resistance impairs effective medical and veterinary treatment of bacterial and other microbial...
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Australian bat lyssavirus - Aug 2023

Australian flying-foxes and insectivorous bats the natural reservoirs for Australian bat lyssavirus, which can infect humans and other mammals. It causes similar signs to rabies and infection...
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Australian marine mammals and biotoxins - Nov 2019

Marine biotoxins produced by harmful algal blooms are a growing global threat to the health of marine mammal species. Biotoxins have been associated with mass morbidity and mortality in...
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Australian marine mammals and Brucella - Mar 2020

Novel species of Brucella have recently emerged as pathogens of marine mammals and as potential zoonoses.

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Australian marine mammals and pollutants - May 2011

Health impacts resulting from pollutant ingestion are part of the cumulative threat to the viability of many marine mammals . This includes abnormal function of the immune and endocrine systems.
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Avian bornavirus - Aug 2023

Avian bornaviruses can infect a wide range of parrots, as well as waterbirds, canaries, and other avian species. Infection can result in nervous system and intestinal disease. Disease in...
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Avian influenza in wild birds in Australia - Nov 2023

Avian influenza is a disease of birds caused by influenza virus type A strains. Avian influenza viruses are found worldwide in numerous bird species. Past outbreaks of high pathogenicity...
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Wildlife Health Australia aims to link, inform and support people and organisations who work with or have an interest in wildlife health across Australia through technical advice, facilitation, communications and professional support.