Press Release

‘Pioneer’ Petra First Koala to be Diagnosed Using a Philips Brilliance CT Scanner

Sydney, Australia – Today Petra, a 13 year-old Koala from Sydney Wildlife World became the first Koala to be diagnosed in Australia with the help of a 16-Slice Brilliance CT (Computed Tomography) scanner from Philips at the University of Sydney Veterinary Hospital. 

 

Petra is suffering from a fungal disease in the nasal cavity called cryptococcosis caused by a fungus associated with eucalypts such as River Red Gum, a key source of nutrition for Koalas.

 

Cyrptococcosis is also a source a disease in human populations including Australia’s indigenous communities in the Northern Territory.

 

Mark Krockenberger, Senior Lecturer in Veterinary Pathology at the University of Sydney’s Faculty of Veterinary Science and leading researcher into infectious diseases affecting Australia’s native Koala population says the fungus is always fatal unless treated, and even then is difficult to reach a successful outcome.

 

“We have treated a number of koalas with this disease, and hopefully Petra will also be the third successful one,” said Dr. Krockenberger.

 

“Today’s CT scan will allow us to view the nasal cavity and soft tissue in detail never before available to us a veterinary hospital, making this a truly remarkable event. It will help us determine the extent of the disease and allow us form an effective management plan.”

 

Sydney University’s Veterinary Hospital is the only veterinary hospital in Australia using a 16-Slice Philips Brilliance CT and one of few in the world.  CT technology is generally involved in the diagnosis of human ailments such as cancer, making this application all the more rare.

 

Phil Prather, Business Manager, Philips Healthcare believes this is a truly groundbreaking use for the imaging system.

“Philips is thrilled to have partnered with the University of Sydney and Sydney Wildlife World to provide an improved imaging system, which will ultimately allow better diagnosis by the veterinary team and lessen the trauma on Petra,” said Prather.

 

 

The Sydney University Veterinary Science Foundation relies on donations to ensure it remains a leading research and teaching institution in Australia.For more information about donations to the Veterinary Science Foundation please contact: Jacqueline Booth on (02) 9351 8024

 

Dr. Krockenberger leads a large research team at the Faculty of Veterinary Science funded by grants from the Australian Research Council and industry collaborators that include the Australian Koala Foundation, Pfizer Australia Koala Preservation Society of New South Wales, WIRES and Symbion Vetnostics.

 

 

For further information, please contact:

Sarah Campbell, Manager Corporate Communications and Sustainability
Philips Electronics Australia
65 Epping Rd, North Ryde NSW 2113
Tel: +61 2 9947 0472
Mob: +61 421 612 994
sarah.campbell@philips.com

About Royal Philips Electronics
Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) is a global leader in healthcare, lighting and consumer lifestyle, delivering products, services and solutions through the brand promise of "sense and simplicity". Headquartered in the Netherlands, Philips employs approximately 128,100 employees in more than 60 countries worldwide. With sales of EUR 27 billion in 2006, the company is a market leader in medical diagnostic imaging and patient monitoring systems, energy efficient lighting solutions, personal care and home appliances, as well as consumer electronics. News from Philips is located at www.philips.com/newscenter.