Services on Demand
Article
Indicators
Related links
- Cited by Google
- Similars in Google
Share
Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research
On-line version ISSN 2219-0635
Print version ISSN 0030-2465
Onderstepoort j. vet. res. vol.76 n.3 Pretoria 2009
ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Identification and partial sequencing of a crocodile poxvirus associated with deeply penetrating skin lesions in farmed Nile crocodiles, Crocodylus niloticus
F.W. HuchzermeyerI; D.B. WallaceII, III; J.F. PutterillII; G.H. GerdesII
IP.O. Box 12499, Onderstepoort, 0110 South Africa
IIOnderstepoort Veterinary Institute, Private Bag X05, Onderstepoort, 0110 South Africa
IIIDepartment of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110 South Africa
ABSTRACT
When large numbers of crocodile skins were downgraded because of the presence of small pin pricklike holes, collapsed epidermal cysts were found deep in the dermis of juvenile crocodiles while forming cysts were observed in hatchlings. Histopathology of these forming cysts showed the presence of intracytoplasmic inclusions in proliferating and ballooning epidermal cells. Pox virions were seen in electron microscope preparations made from the scabs of such early lesions. The partial sequencing of virus material from scrapings of these lesions and comparison of it with the published sequence of crocodile poxvirus showed the virus associated with the deep lesions to be closely related, but different. To differentiate between the two forms of crocodile pox infection it is suggested that the previously known form should be called "classical crocodile pox" and the newly discovered form "atypical crocodile pox". The application of strict hygiene measures brought about a decline in the percentage of downgraded skins.
Keywords: Crocodylus niloticus, dermatitis, electron microscopy, genome sequencing, poxvirus
“Full text available only in PDF format”
REFERENCES
AFONSO, C.L., TULMAN, E.R., DELHON, G., LU, Z., VILJOEN, G.J., WALLACE, D.B., KUTISH, G.F. & ROCK, D.L. 2006. Genome of crocodile pox virus. Journal of Virology, 80:4978-4991. [ Links ]
BUORO, I.B.J. 1992. Pox-like virus particles in skin lesions of five Nile crocodiles in Kenya. Discovery and Innovation, 4: 117-118. [ Links ]
DICKSON, H., CARDEILHAC, P. & ASHLEY, J.D. 2002. Pix skin disease in the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis), in Crocodiles. Proceedings of the 16th Working Meeting of the Crocodile Specialist Group, IUCN - The World Conservation Union, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK: 187. [ Links ]
DOANE, F.W. & ANDERSON, N. 1987. Poxviridae, in Electron microscopy in diagnostic virology. A practical guide and atlas. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. [ Links ]
ESPOSITO, J., CONDIT, R. & OBIJESKI, J. 1981. The preparation of Orthopoxvirus DNA. Journal of Virological Methods, 2:175-179. [ Links ]
GERDES, G.H. 1991. Morphology of poxviruses from reptiles. Veterinary Record, 128:452. [ Links ]
HAIRE, D. 1997. Concern over American alligator skin pitting. Crocodile Specialist Group Newsletter, 16:22-23. [ Links ]
HORNER, R.F. 1988. Poxvirus in farmed Nile crocodiles. Veterinary Record, 122:459-462. [ Links ]
HUCHZERMEYER, F.W., HUCHZERMEYER, K.D.A. & PUTTERILL, J.F. 1991. Observations on a field outbreak of pox virus infection in young Nile crocodiles (Crocodylus niloticus). Journal of the South African Veterinary Association, 62: 27-29. [ Links ]
HUCHZERMEYER, F.W. & PUTTERILL, J.F. 2004. Pitholes in Nile crocodile skins, in Crocodiles. Proceedings of the 17th Working Meeting of the Crocodile Specialist Group, IUCN -The World Conservation Union, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK: 492-493. [ Links ]
MEDZON, E.L. & BAUER, H. 1970. Structural features of vaccinia virus revealed by negative staining, sectioning and freeze-etching. Virology, 40:860-867. [ Links ]
MILLER, D.L., MAUEL, M.J., BALDWIN, C., BURTLE, G., INGRAM, D., HINES, M.E. & FRAZIER, K.S. 2003. West Nile virus in farmed alligators. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 9: 794-799. [ Links ]
NEVAREZ, J.G., MITCHELL, M.A., JOHNSON, A.J. & KINLER, N. 2007. Establishing an association between West Nile virus exposure and the development of lymphohistiocytic proliferative syndrome in American alligators, Alligator mississippiensis. Journal of Herpetological Medicine and Surgery, 17:4-7. [ Links ]
PANDEY, G.S., INOUE, N., OSHIMA, K., OKADA, K., CHIHAYA, Y. & FUJIMOTO, Y. 1990. Poxvirus infection in Nile crocodiles (Crocodylus niloticus). Research in Veterinary Science, 49:171-176. [ Links ]
RICHARDSON, K.C., WEBB, G.J.W. & MANOLIS, S.C. 2002. Crocodiles: Inside out. Chipping Norton: Surrey Beatty and Sons. [ Links ]
Accepted for publication 19 February 2009-Editor
* Author to whom correspondence is to be directed. E-mail: crocvet@mweb.co.za