title: Treatment and control of an outbreak of salmonellosis in hatchling Nile crocodiles (Crocodylus niloticus).
abstract: The therapeutic and managemental steps taken to bring a severe outbreak of salmonellosis in Nile crocodiles (Crocodylus niloticus) under control are described. All the crocodiles were initially given intramuscular injections with kanamycin on alternating days for 8 d, coupled with adjustment of the ambient temperature to 29 degrees C. The holding pens were cleaned and disinfected with 2% formalin at the onset of treatment. Daily scrubbing and disinfection was continued throughout the treatment period. Severely affected crocodiles were separated and force-fed a liquid diet. All crocodiles were vaccinated with an inactivated calf paratyphoid vaccine 10 d after the onset of treatment and again one month later. The initial treatment was followed by a 30-week period of in-feed medication with oxytetracycline. Response to the initial treatment was dramatic, although some mortalities still occurred in the force-fed group for one month. The following year's hatchlings were fed heat-treated meat from first feeding onwards to avoid the possibility of introducing Salmonella spp. via the feed.
authors.affiliation: Lydenburg Veterinary Clinic, Republic of South Africa.
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Huchzermeyer
mesh_terms: D000489:Alligators and Crocodiles / Q000382:microbiology; D000818:Animals; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000662:veterinary*; D007612:Kanamycin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012481:Salmonella Infections, Animal / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D007612:Kanamycin