Disease-husbandry associations in farmed crocodiles in Queensland and the Northern Territory

SUMMARY To investigate husbandry-disease associations in farmed crocodiles 7 farms 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) crocodiles was carried out (85 necropsied, one biopsied and 214 examined retrospectively). Mortality rate and occurrence of disease, especially opportunistic infections with bacteria and fungi, were highest during winter months and in farms located at greater latitudes. A difference in the 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 infrequent and bacterial septicaemias and mycoses less common as a result of some provision of artificial heating for juveniles. Gross and microscopic changes observed in visceral and periarticular gout, bacterial hepatitis/septicaemia, deep and superficial mycosis, pentastomiasis and other parasitic infections are described.