Biochemical Reference Intervals of Free-Ranging Koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) in South Australia

Reference intervals (RIs) are an essential tool for assessment of clinical pathology data of animals, and are particularly important for monitoring the health status of free-ranging and captive wildlife, such as koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus).

The purpose of this study was to: (1) provide comprehensive serum biochemistry reference intervals based on clinically healthy South Australian koalas from two populations, Mount Lofty Ranges (MLR) and Kangaroo Island (KI); and (2) identify any factors that can affect biochemical analytes, including koala retrovirus (KoRV) and Chlamydia pecorum subclinical infection status, age, sex, and population.

Serum biochemistry analytes were determined in 206 clinically healthy South Australian koalas caught from the wild in 2016 and 2018 using a Cobas 8000 Chemistry Analyzer and analyzed using Reference Value Advisor and SPSS v28 Statistical software.

Biochemical reference intervals were established. Also, clinically and statistically significant differences in analytes were found based on age for alkaline phosphatase and phosphate, and albumin: globulin ratio, globulins, and total protein, most likely associated with physiological bone growth and immunological development, respectively, as observed in other species. Statistically significant differences between animals subclinically positive for KoRV and Chlamydia pecorum, were found for glucose and gamma glutamyl transferase respectively; however, these were marginal, and their reference intervals were similar.

This study is the first to describe serum biochemical reference intervals for clinically healthy South Australian koalas of known Chlamydia and KoRV infection status. It represents an important tool to assist health assessments of koalas by veterinarians, as well as research and population monitoring.