Comments on: First chlamydia vaccine approval offers hope for at-risk koalas

First chlamydia vaccine approval offers hope for at-risk koalas

chariot pulled by cassowaries — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 16:12:00 -0800

First chlamydia vaccine approval offers hope for at-risk koalas. Australia's vet regulator approves a koala chlamydia vaccine for nationwide rollout, offering new hope in the fight against the potentially fatal sexually transmitted disease. (If you are wondering WHY so many koalas have chlamydia, koalas appear to have caught chlamydia from European sheep and European cattle in the 1780s. The strain of chlamydia that koalas have is associated with sheep/cattle, not humans. It is transmissible by infected poo and infected soil, which would explain how koalas could catch it from sheep/cattle.) Koalas infected with chlamydia are usually given antibiotics, but this destroys the gut bacteria which allow them to digest eucalyptus leaves - their primary food source - and can lead to starvation.

By: Jessica Savitch's Coke Spoon

Jessica Savitch's Coke Spoon — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 16:50:49 -0800

*Availability in the United States is subject to MAGA Approval.

By: chariot pulled by cassowaries

chariot pulled by cassowaries — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 16:55:24 -0800

*Availability in the United States is subject to MAGA Approval. I'm not sure this specific vaccine would be of any benefit to humans: koalas get Chlamydia pecorum and Chlamydia pneumoniae humans get Chlamydia trachomatis.

By: nickmark

nickmark — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 17:04:45 -0800

It is transmissible by infected poo and infected soil, which would explain how koalas could catch it from sheep/cattle. I mean, I can think of another explanation, though I acknowledge it's hard to visualize...

By: GenjiandProust

GenjiandProust — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 17:06:29 -0800

Good news for koalas, who've been having a rough time of it.

By: Jessica Savitch's Coke Spoon

Jessica Savitch's Coke Spoon — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 17:30:19 -0800

I'm not sure this specific vaccine would be of any benefit to humans Sorry - making a sweeping general statement about the current socio-cultural sentiment.

By: mhoye

mhoye — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 17:50:59 -0800

"If you are wondering WHY..." This part seems ... defensive?

By: rednikki

rednikki — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 18:30:38 -0800

This is really great news. Thank you for consistently being a light on Metafilter.

By: Didymus

Didymus — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 21:03:47 -0800

chariot pulled by cassowaries is taunting me at this point clicks that cannot be denied the day you post a link about how.. I dunno.. the farts of a specific stick insect are Helping to Reduce CO2 Actually I will pledge $100 to MeFi (most likely any post title with the word 'farts' and almost anything else will probably do the trick)

By: mydonkeybenjamin

mydonkeybenjamin — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 21:19:41 -0800

Nice to get this good news. Thanks for posting!

By: indianbadger1

indianbadger1 — Fri, 12 Sep 2025 07:23:31 -0800

Speaking of Chlamydia, one of the best bits from the Late Late Show.

By: Nanukthedog

Nanukthedog — Sat, 13 Sep 2025 18:32:53 -0800

Does this mean that John Oliver won't be synonymous with Koala Chlamydia anymore?

By: plinth

plinth — Tue, 16 Sep 2025 06:42:31 -0800

Nanukthedog - I was hoping that Oliver contributed funding to the research.