Sam The Koala Dies On Operating Table
August 7th 2009 02:46
Sam was successfully rehabilitated at the Southern Ash Wildlife Shelter in Rawson but was subsequently found to have Chlamydia. Chlamydia is a bacterium that infects a wide range of animals, including birds, sheep, cattle, horses, pigs, cats, mice and even humans.
Chlamydia causes chronic infections in koalas. The infections occur in the urogenital tract and the respiratory tract and can cause infertility, blindness and ultimately death. The visible symptoms are conjunctivitis or 'pink eye' and urinary tract infections causing incontinence, leading to a condition known as 'dirty tail' or 'wet bottom'.
Sam underwent surgery yesterday but veterinary surgeon Dr John Butler found her body was riddled with the disease. Sam died on the operating table on the six month anniversary of the fires.
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