Treatment and control of an outbreak of salmonellosis in hatchling Nile crocodiles (Crocodylus niloticus).

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.