CROCLIST: an item from HerpDigest: Chlamydia in Oz Crocs

[Steve Grenard]

  Our Croc Have Pox, Is It A Chlamydia Outbreak, Or A New Strain Of Pox
Virus

  From article by Greg Mclean, Northern Territory News, 9/14/06

  South African Dr Fritz Huchzermeyer arrived in Darwin last week to
investigate the puzzling deaths of thousands of juvenile saltwater
crocodiles at farms throughout the Top End in recent months.

  Dr Huchzermeyer is regarded as the foremost crocodile disease expert in
the world.

  While scientists from the Department of Primary Industries are confident
the deaths are linked to a chlamydia outbreak, Dr Huchzermeyer believes the
deaths could also be a new strain of pox virus.

  ``In crocodile populations I have seen around the world with chlamydia
infections the mortality rate has been very low whereas in this case it is
extremely high,'' Dr Huchzermeyer said.

  ``Also, the affected crocodiles are not responding to tetracyclines, which
are a form of antibiotic used to successfully treat juvenile crocodiles
infected with chlamydia.

  ``It's very puzzling to have these conjunctivitis symptoms, which suggest
chlamydia, combined with ... severe swelling of the phalynx which hardens
and suffocates the crocs.

  ``These mucosal legions on the crocodiles here could also suggest a new
manifestation of the pox virus _ it is possible the water birds that migrate
between the farms have been passive carriers of whatever disease is
affecting the population.

  ``We need a proper diagnosis and that can only be done by analyzing the
microscopic sections of infected animals. Whatever it is, this is the
highest mortality rate I've ever seen for such a large population.''
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