DISEASE-HUSBANDRY ASSOCIATIONS IN FARMED CROCODILES IN QUEENSLAND ANDTHE NORTHERN-TERRITORY

To investigate husbandry-disease associations in farmed crocodiles 7 f arms in Queensland and the Northern Territory were visited and details of past and present farm design and husbandry practices were recorded . In addition pathological examination of 300 (mostly young) crocodile s was carried out (85 necropsied, one biopsied and 214 examined retros pectively). Mortality rate and occurrence of disease, especially oppor tunistic infections with bacteria and fungi, were highest during winte r months and in farms located at greater latitudes. A difference in th e presence and prevalence of disease between the initial establishment phase of Northern Territory crocodile farms (1984-87) and currently ( 1988-91) was apparent; parasitic infections are now relatively infrequ ent and bacterial septicaemias and mycoses less common as a result of some provision of artificial heating for juveniles. Gross and microsco pic changes observed in visceral and periarticular gout, bacterial hep atitis/septicaemia, deep and superficial mycosis, pentastomiasis and o ther parasitic infections are described.