CLINICAL COMMUNICATION

An outbreak of chlamydiosis in farmed Indopacific crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus)

F W Huchzermeyer^I; E Langelet^II; J F Putterill^III

^IPO Box 12499, Onderstepoort, 0110 South Africa
^IIMainland Holdings Crocodile Farm, PO Box 169, Lae, 411 Papua New Guinea
^IIIOnderstepoort Veterinary Institute, Private Bag X05, Onderstepoort, 0110 South Africa

ABSTRACT

An outbreak of chlamydiosis was diagnosed in hatchling and juvenile Indopacific crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus) on a crocodile farm in Papua New Guinea. The outbreak was characterised by high mortality with hepatitis and exudative conjunctivitis. The agent appears to have been introduced with live wild-caught crocodiles, which are purchased routinely by the farm. Improved quarantine procedures and treatment with tetracycline led to a rapid reduction of losses on the farm.

Keywords: Chlamydia, conjunctivitis, crocodile, Crocodylus porosus, hepatitis, tonsillitis

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REFERENCES

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Received: November 2007
Accepted: June 2008

* Author for correspondence. E-mail: crocvet@mweb.co.za
Huchzermeyer F W, Langelet E, Putterill J F An outbreak of chlamydiosis in farmed Indopacific crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus). Journal of the South African Veterinary Association (2008) 79(2): 99-100 (En.). PO Box 12499, Onderstepoort, 0110 South Africa.