HEPATITIS IN FARMED HATCHLING NILE CROCODILES (CROCODYLUS-NILOTICUS) DUE TO CHLAMYDIAL INFECTION

An investigation into the cause of acute mortality in farmed hatchling crocodiles Crocodylus niloticus led to the isolation of chlamydia fro m the livers of affected animals. Prominent pathological findings were acute hepatitis with intracellular chlamydial colonies and generalise d oedema. A chlamydia presumed to be C. psittaci was isolated from liv ers of affected hatchlings. Mortality subsided after treatment with ox ytetracycline. This disease is now recognised as being a major problem on crocodile farms in Zimbabwe.