Infectious diseases and other threatening processes of wildlife are becoming increasingly important as globalisation and environmental change are causing them to emerge and re-emerge.
The One Health Research Group uses a multidisciplinary approach to provide holistic solutions to mitigate the impact of health issues that impact biodiversity, humans or agriculture. OHRG researchers have decades of experience researching wildlife health, including emerging infectious diseases and toxicoses.
A major focus is chytridiomycosis, which has caused the extinction of about 90 amphibian species around the world, and the decline of hundreds more. Other current research includes industrial fluoride toxicity in marsupials, risk analysis for the introduction of white nose syndrome in bats, determining the importance of disease in the conservation of the Lumholtz tree kangaroo, and treatment of sarcoptic mange in Australian wildlife.
Recent past work includes improving the control of transmission of Hendra virus from bats into horses and humans, and investigating avian influenza and Newcastle disease in waterfowl in Australia - both these diseases sporadically spill over into poultry.
Buruli ulcer and Australian possums
Reporting and sample collection info for veterinarians
Current research projects
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Co-designing the future of corroboree frog conservation
This project is investigating the immune system and resilience of Corroboree frogs, working closely with communities and conservation partners to tackle the deadly chytrid fungus.
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Vulnerability of Australian bats to White Nose Syndrome
This project is investigating the immune system and environment of Australian microbats projected to be most at risk of the potentially lethal fungal disease white-nose syndrome.
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Improving disease resilience in ecosystems using synthetic biology
The Future Fellowship will use the latest biotechnology research to improve disease immunity in wild populations.
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Effect of disease on reproduction plasticity and evolution in amphibians
Exploring the impact of disease on reproductive success in amphibians using both lab and field techniques to understand ecological mechanisms for resilience of wildlife to emerging diseases.
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Phalaris toxicity in macropods
This project investigates distribution of introduced toxins, prevalence and risk factors, and aims to develop management options.
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Sarcoptic mange in wombats
Assessing pharmacokinetics of moxidectin for treating mange in wombats.
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Surveillance for Mycoplasma and Brucella as potential etiological agents of abortion in Australian Fur seals
Can bacterial agents play a significant role in third trimester abortions in Australian fur seals?
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Beating Buruli in Victoria
A new three-year research project commenced in February 2021 aiming to better understand how Buruli ulcer is transmitted and determine effective ways to reduce and prevent infections.
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Assessing the risks of lead from ammunition to Australian people and wildlife
This ecotoxicology project aims to better understand the threat posed by toxic lead from shooting activities to Australian wildlife, humans and domestic animals that regularly consume meat of wildlife origin ("game" meat).
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Reptile microbiome
This project seeks to determine the factors that shape reptilian microbiotas, and how these bacterial assemblages influence host physiology and evolutionary biology.
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Wildlife Health Victoria: Surveillance
Contribute to our understanding of wildlife health in Victoria by reporting disease events (sick and dead animals) in free ranging wildlife that you observe.
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Perceptions of knowledge and interest in future education regarding Australian native wildlife in veterinarians practising in Victoria, Australia
A lack of knowledge or skills and time have been identified in a 2018 questionnaire as the main factors limiting the treatment of wildlife presented to private veterinary practices in Australia.
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Passive Disease Surveillance of Koalas
We know that Victorian koalas are subject to a range of health issues, such as infection with chlamydia, but also a range of non-infectious problems. This project investigates causes of health and disease in our koala populations through examination of koalas that have been found dead or dying.
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Little penguin passive disease surveillance
This project will provide us with important data on the range of health issues affecting little penguins at Phillip Island Nature Park. Penguins that have died or been found recently dead will receive a full post mortem examination to determine cause of death and the range of health issues present.
Completed projects
One Health Research Group's past research projects on wildlife health, including emerging infectious diseases and toxicoses.