title: The probable role of cannibalism in spreading Trichinella papuae infection in a crocodile farm in Papua New Guinea.
abstract: Between 2003 and 2007, 83 (50%) of 167 crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus) purchased as juveniles by a crocodile farm 3 or 4 years earlier from Kikori, Gulf Province, were found to be infected with Trichinella papuae. Between 2005 and 2007 infection was detected in a number of crocodiles at the farm obtained from six localities other than Kikori, as well as in a few animals born on the farm. Up to 2004, all juveniles at the farm, whether wild- or farm-born, were penned together; the practice was then stopped to prevent possible infection through cannibalism. The last infected animal from Kikori was seen in 2007, 4 years after the purchase of crocodiles from there ceased. The last non-Kikori infected crocodile was seen, also, in 2007. None of the 1972 crocodiles (comprising wild- and farm-born animals) tested from 2008 to 2013, using the digestion method, was infected with T. papuae. This indicates that infection of non-Kikori crocodiles was the result of cannibalism within the farm during the years up to 2004 when juvenile crocodiles were kept together, and that the farm is now free of the infection.
authors.affiliation: National Veterinary Laboratory, National Agriculture Quarantine & Inspection Authority (NAQIA), PO Box 741, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
authors.forename: Ifor L
authors.initials: IL
authors.lastname: Owen
authors.affiliation: National Veterinary Laboratory, National Agriculture Quarantine & Inspection Authority (NAQIA), PO Box 741, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
authors.forename: Columba
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Awui
authors.affiliation: Crocodile Farm, Mainland Holdings Ltd., PO Box 169, Lae, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Langelet
authors.affiliation: Crocodile Farm, Mainland Holdings Ltd., PO Box 169, Lae, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea.
authors.forename: Wenda
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Soctine
authors.affiliation: School of Population Health, The University of Queensland, Herston Road, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia. Electronic address: simon.reid@uq.edu.au.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Reid
mesh_terms: D000489:Alligators and Crocodiles / Q000469:parasitology*; D000818:Animals; D002190:Cannibalism; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D010219:Papua New Guinea; D010273:Parasitic Diseases, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D015995:Prevalence; D014234:Trichinella; D014235:Trichinellosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*
keywords: Cannibalism; Crocodile farm management; Crocodylus porosus; Trichinella papuae