Professor Timms said the research revealed evidence that humans were originally infected zoonotically by animal isolates of Chlamydia pneumoniae which have adapted to humans primarily through the processes of gene decay.
The more common strain, Chlamydia pecorum, is responsible for most of the outbreak in Queensland and cannot be transmitted to humans. The second strain, C. pneumoniae, can infect humans if, say, an infected koala were to urinate on someone, though it's unlikely.
When the disease was first reported in 1951, there were 10,764 cases in men; unsurprisingly, no numbers for women were given.
Chlamydia cannot be passed on through casual contact, such as kissing and hugging, or from sharing baths, towels, swimming pools, toilet seats or cutlery.
Many animal species can have chlamydiosis. Sheep, goats and cats are the most commonly affected. It is less common in cattle and lla- mas. Other animals species that can become ill include deer, guinea pigs, and mice.
He said a combination of habitat loss and climate change is causing koalas to be “chronically stressed,” depressing their immune systems. “All that leads to poor chlamydia response. It gets them from low grade chlamydia infections to more serious disease,” he said. “That's what we're doing to them.
“Two or three of the major STIs [in humans] have come from animals. We know, for example, that gonorrhoea came from cattle to humans. Syphilis also came to humans from cattle or sheep many centuries ago, possibly sexually”.
Only trained accredited rangers are allowed to hold a koala. This is a sensible law as it protects koalas from being stressed because a human wants to give it a hug. Koalas are wild animals and have a natural fear of humans, especially humans who they don't know.
People enjoy picking them up, but like many tree-dwelling animals, koalas don't much care where they urinate. If an infected koala urinates on a person, they can possibly transmit the strain of chlamydia to the human. This is something you never want to explain to a doctor.
No one knows how or when koalas first got chlamydia. But the curse is at least centuries old.
Koalas are not typically dangerous. They sleep 22 hours a day, high in eucalyptus trees, so there are minimal interactions with humans. If you came across one in the wild they would probably climb higher on their tree to avoid you. However, if they felt cornered or threatened they could become aggressive.
The first well-recorded European outbreak of what is now known as syphilis occurred in 1494 when it broke out among French troops besieging Naples in the Italian War of 1494–98.
Syphilis also came to humans from cattle or sheep many centuries ago, possibly sexually”. The most recent and deadliest STI to have crossed the barrier separating humans and animals has been HIV, which humans got from the simian version of the virus in chimpanzees.
Generally speaking, the STIs (sexually transmitted infections) we associate with person-to-person sexual contact, including HIV, cannot be transmitted through sexual contact between humans and animals because these infections are species-specific.
Chlamydia isn't spread through casual contact, so you CAN'T get chlamydia from sharing food or drinks, kissing, hugging, holding hands, coughing, sneezing, or sitting on the toilet. Using condoms and/or dental dams every time you have sex is the best way to help prevent chlamydia.
In some parts of Australia, up to 90 percent of the koala population is infected. The disease strikes koalas living in the wild as well as in zoos. Although the disease can be treated, it is difficult to diagnose.
Chlamydia, a type of sexually transmitted disease also found in humans, has hit wild koalas hard, with some wild populations seeing a 100 percent infection rate.
In the 1500s, this word referred to a rabbit's nest; due to the active sex lives of rabbits, the name was picked up as a slang term for brothels, a place where people engaged in regular sex and could spread the disease easily. If you had the disease, you had “clapier bubo.” This was eventually shortened to “clap.”
STDs have been around since the dawn of humanity. Herpes may have first infected our ancestors more than a million years ago. Syphilis has been around since at least the Middle Ages. It's possible STDs are what encouraged humans to stick to monogamous pairings.
Anyone having oral, anal, or vaginal sex with a partner recently diagnosed with an STD should see a healthcare provider. Because chlamydia usually has no symptoms, screening is necessary to identify most infections.
The most dangerous viral STD is human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which leads to AIDS. Other incurable viral STDs include human papilloma virus (HPV), hepatitis B and genital herpes.
There's only one country on Earth where you can cuddle a koala – Australia! This unforgettable wildlife experience is only available in select sanctuaries and wildlife parks, and visits are carefully monitored to protect the health and safety of the koalas.
Koalas are very cute and sleepy animals that can certainly draw a crowd at any zoo. They are also quite smart, according to a new study that has tracked the movements of the Australian animal in suburban Brisbane.