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Poxvirus in farmed Nile crocodiles
1Allerton Regional Veterinary Laboratory, Pietermaritzburg, Natal, South Africa.
The Veterinary Record
|May 7, 1988
Summary
A poxvirus caused wart-like skin lesions in farmed Nile crocodiles. An autogenous vaccine helped vaccinated crocodiles heal faster than controls, offering a potential treatment for this reptilian disease.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Pathology
- Herpetology
- Virology
Background:
- Outbreak of unusual skin lesions observed in farmed Nile crocodiles (Crocodylus niloticus).
- Lesions were characterized as wart-like and predominantly affected the head and neck, though present on most body parts except the tail.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the causative agent of the skin lesions in Nile crocodiles.
- To evaluate the efficacy of an autogenous vaccine for treating the lesions.
Main Methods:
- Histopathological examination of skin lesions revealed eosinophilic intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies in epithelial cells.
- Transmission electron microscopy confirmed the presence of a poxvirus.
- An autogenous vaccine was developed using material from the affected crocodiles.
Main Results:
- Poxvirus was identified as the causative agent of the skin lesions.
- Six vaccinated crocodiles showed accelerated healing of lesions compared to unvaccinated control crocodiles.
Conclusions:
- Poxvirus infection is responsible for the observed wart-like skin lesions in farmed Nile crocodiles.
- An autogenous vaccine demonstrated potential therapeutic benefits by promoting faster lesion healing in affected crocodiles.