1. Dermatological conditions of farmed Crocodilians: A review of pathogenic agents and their proposed impact on skin quality.
- Author
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Lott MJ, Moore RL, Milic NL, Power M, Shilton CM, and Isberg SR
- Subjects
- Alligators and Crocodiles parasitology, Animal Husbandry, Animals, Bacteria isolation & purification, Bacteria pathogenicity, Bacterial Infections prevention & control, Bacterial Infections veterinary, Commerce, Dermatology, Farms, Fungi isolation & purification, Fungi pathogenicity, Mycoses prevention & control, Mycoses veterinary, Skin microbiology, Skin parasitology, Skin virology, Skin Diseases microbiology, Skin Diseases prevention & control, Skin Diseases virology, Virus Diseases prevention & control, Virus Diseases veterinary, Viruses isolation & purification, Viruses pathogenicity, Alligators and Crocodiles microbiology, Alligators and Crocodiles virology, Skin ultrastructure, Skin Diseases veterinary
- Abstract
The control of pathogens that target crocodilian skin is essential to the long-term success and sustainability of intensive farming operations worldwide. To understand the impact these pathogens may have on the skin, a brief overview of skin histology is given. A review of the known viral, bacterial, fungal and helminth taxa associated with skin conditions in commercially significant crocodilian species is presented. Best management practices are discussed, with an emphasis on addressing extrinsic factors that influence transmission and pathogenicity. It is argued that, in the past, reduced immune function arising from inadequate thermal regulation was the leading cause of skin disease in captive crocodilians. Consequently, innovations such as temperature control, coupled with the adoption of more stringent hygiene standards, have greatly reduced the prevalence of many infectious skin conditions in intensively farmed populations. However, despite improvements in animal husbandry and disease management, viral pathogens such as West Nile virus, herpesvirus and poxvirus continue to afflict crocodilians in modern captive production systems., (Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier B.V.)
- Published
- 2018
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