Read the latest from the Australian Veterinary Journal's August issue!

Did you know?
❓ This month we have an entire issue devoted to our Australian marsupials including two manuscripts studying factors associated with prognosis and release success in bushfire affected Koalas?

❓ That topical treatments instead of systemic antibiotics are recommended for non-infected burn wounds in Koalas?

❓ That Victorian koalas, while not endangered like their QLD, NSW and ACT counterparts, have a low genetic diversity due to historical fur trade hunting?

❓ That Phalaris toxicosis causing neurological disease in kangaroos can be identified grossly postmortem by the accumulation of dark melanin pigment in their brains?

❓ That standard inhalational isoflurane anaesthetic protocols are suitable for bandicoots of different weight, sex and reproductive status?

Find out this and more in this month’s Australian Veterinary Journal (login and select ‘Latest Issue’, Volume 103, Issue 8, August 2025) which showcases 7 papers across wildlife and zoos with a focus on Australian marsupials. There are five papers on Koalas with a including antimicrobial treatment, prognosis and release of bushfire affected koalas, a large postmortem study on koalas and a case report of cryptococcal meningitis. Continuing the neurological there is a paper on characterisation of pigment accumulation Kangaroos with Phalaris toxicity and one on field anaesthesia for bandicoots. There are 30 quiz questions and 3 Vet Ed points available for AVA members via My Learning.

The August 2025 issue features:

Wildlife and Zoos

• Prognostic factors in bushfire-affected koalas–Kangaroo Island bushfire response 2020. O Funnell, J McLelland, A Kokosinska, T Stephenson, E Dunstan, B Turner, N Speight
• Factors that influence the decision to release rehabilitated koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) to fire-affected home sites. D Hill, DP Higgins
• Systemic antibiotic use in fire-affected koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) admitted to two wildlife treatment facilities during the 2019–2020 wildfires. FK McDougall, O Funnell, JM McLelland, C Flanagan, M Govendir, F Stoeckeler, I Smith, ML Power
• Cryptococcal meningitis due to Cryptococcus neoformans VNI in a koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) with progressive neurological disease. A Teh,  R Crisman,  E Dwars,  R Malik,  LH de Miranda,  W Meyer,  M Krockenberger
• Characterisation of localised pigment accumulation in brains of eastern grey kangaroos (Macropus giganteus) after clinical disease due to chronic Phalaris species toxicosis. C El-Hage,  T Chen,  L Tatarczuch,  J Hufschmid,  LF Skerratt,  P Whiteley,  N Davis,  R Ploeg
• Causes of mortality in koalas autopsied at the University of Melbourne
  L Wilson,  P Whiteley,  A Stent,  F Stockman,  F Elloy,  EC Hobbs,  VG Astudillo,  KVF Jubb,  P Loukopoulos
•  Physiological parameter changes during field anaesthesia of bandicoots
  AF Bullen,  JW Macgregor,  B Corbin,  K Warren

Correction
Correction to “Haematology and plasma biochemistry reference intervals in wild bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps)”

Obituary
Dr. Mike R. Wilson (1934–2025). R Cutler,  R Love,  J Yager