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...
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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 - May 2024

Antimicrobial resistance is recognized as an issue of emerging global importance. Antimicrobial resistance is a One Health challenge and impairs effective treatment of bacterial and other...
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Arboviruses associated with Australian wildlife - May 2024

At least 75 arboviruses have been reported in Australia, most of them transmitted by the bites of mosquitoes and 13 arboviruses are considered zoonotic (a disease transmitted from animals to...
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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 - Aug 2024

Marine mammals are prone to accumulating environmental pollutants due to their longevity and diet, making them excellent sentinels of ocean health. Pollutants are part of the cumulative threat to...
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Avian bornavirus and proventricular dilation disease - 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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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.