Pneumonia associated with Bordetella bronchiseptica in captive koalas

Bordetella bronchiseptica was isolated from 12 cases of purulent bronchopneumonia from a captive koala colony near Brisbane, Queensland. An initial epizootic in March 1967 causing 13% mortality was followed by annual outbreaks causing 2% mortality usually in newly weaned and aged koalas in late winter to early spring. High population density and a low plane of nutrition in winter were thought to predispose to the occurrence of the disease.