Oculocutaneous albinism in a wild koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) with unusual renal impairment

An albino koala with progressive weight loss was submitted twice to a wildlife clinic. Due to poor prognosis, the koala was euthanised. Relevant histopathology findings include a membranous glomerulopathy and renal ceroid lipofuscinosis. Transmission electron microscopy revealed thickening of the mesangial matrix and glomerular basement membrane and a few dense deposits suggestive of a chronic nephropathy. Albinism in koalas is rare, and this report describes general features of wildlife albinism as well as drawing a comparison to a well-described amelanotic syndrome in humans that typically results in a severe glomerulopathy due to circulating or in situ immune complexes.

Automated summary

An albino koala with progressive weight loss was euthanised due to poor prognosis, with histopathology findings indicating membranous glomerulopathy and renal ceroid lipofuscinosis. The comparison was drawn between wildlife albinism and a well-described amelanotic syndrome in humans, both leading to severe glomerulopathy.