Pansteatitis of unknown etiology associated with large-scale nile crocodile (Crocodylus Niloticus) mortality in Kruger National Park, South Africa : pathologic findings

dc.contributor.authorLane, Emily P.
dc.contributor.authorHuchzermeyer, Fritz W.
dc.contributor.authorGovender, Dhanashree (Danny)
dc.contributor.authorBengis, Roy G.
dc.contributor.authorBuss, Peter Erik
dc.contributor.authorHofmeyr, Markus
dc.contributor.authorMyburgh, Jan G.
dc.contributor.authorSteyl, Johan Christian Abraham
dc.contributor.authorPienaar, Daniel J.
dc.contributor.authorKotze, Antoinette
dc.date.accessioned2014-07-16T05:01:08Z
dc.date.available2014-07-16T05:01:08Z
dc.date.issued2013-12
dc.description.abstractAnnual mortality events in Nile crocodiles (Crocodylus niloticus) in the Olifants River Gorge in Kruger National Park, South Africa, were experienced between 2008 and 2012, during which at least 216 crocodiles died. Live crocodiles were lethargic. Necropsy examination of 56 affected crocodiles showed dark yellow-brown firm nodules in both somatic fat and the abdominal fat body. In all of the 11 crocodiles submitted for histology, degenerative, necrotic, and inflammatory changes supported a diagnosis of steatitis in both fat types. Crocodiles are apex predators in this anthropogenically changed aquatic ecosystem that is used by humans upstream and downstream from the park for domestic, agricultural, fishing, and recreational purposes. This pathologic review of pansteatitis in crocodiles in the Olifants River system was part of a broad multidisciplinary research program. To date, no definitive causative agent has been identified. Epidemiologic evidence suggests that this event may have been a one-time event with long-standing repercussions on the health of the crocodiles. Pathologic findings are rarely documented in wild crocodilians. This study also reports on other conditions, including the presence of coccidian oocysts, capillarid and filaroid nematodes, digenetic trematodes, and pentastomes.en_US
dc.description.librarianam2014en_US
dc.description.sponsorshipHistopathologic processing was funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.en_US
dc.description.urihttp://zoowildlifejournal.comen_US
dc.identifier.citationLane, EP, Huchzermeyer, FW, Govender, D, Bengis, RG, Buss, PE, Hofmeyr, M, Myburgh, JG, Steyl, JCA, Pienaar, DJ & Kotze, A 2013, 'Pansteatitis of unknown etiology associated with large-scale nile crocodile (Crocodylus Niloticus) mortality in Kruger National Park, South Africa : pathologic findings', Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine, vol. 44, no. 4, pp. 899-910.en_US
dc.identifier.issn1042-7260 (print)
dc.identifier.issn1937-2825 (online)
dc.identifier.other35321482200
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/40803
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherAmerican Association of Zoo Veterinariansen_US
dc.rightsCopyright 2013 by American Association of Zoo Veterinariansen_US
dc.subjectCoccidiaen_US
dc.subjectHelminthsen_US
dc.subjectOlifants Gorgeen_US
dc.subjectPansteatitisen_US
dc.subjectPentastomesen_US
dc.subjectNile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus)en_US
dc.titlePansteatitis of unknown etiology associated with large-scale nile crocodile (Crocodylus Niloticus) mortality in Kruger National Park, South Africa : pathologic findingsen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US

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