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THE AUSTRALIAN (Sydney) 15 September 06 Human drugs stop croc Chlamydia (Dave Donaghy)
An antibiotic used to treat chlamydia in humans may be the answer to a deadly bacteria threatening far north Queensland's multi-million dollar crocodile skin and meat industry.
Crocodile farmers feared for the future of the industry when the chlamydia bacteria was blamed for the deaths of 30 per cent of estuarine crocodile hatchlings from the Cairns Crocodile Farm during an unseasonably cold winter.
Chlamydia has a 70 per cent mortality rate in crocodiles.
The bacteria had already killed thousands of crocodile hatchlings during an outbreak in Northern Territory farms earlier this year.
Cairns Crocodile Farm owner Keith Cook said today the antibiotic Azithromycin had cured infected crocodiles at his park.
Chlamydia can cause conjunctivitis, liver and throat problems and skin lesions in infected crocodiles.
The bacteria remains a massive problem in the Northern Territory.
Mr Cook blamed an extended and chilly winter, where temperatures regularly dropped to around seven degrees, for the restricted outbreak that had not reached other parks in the region.
"You don't stress them out unless there's a major drop in temperature," Mr Cook said.
"Crocodiles have the most amazing immune system. They rebound with incredible speed far greater than any other animal I've ever worked with.
"But they're very sensitive to temperature because they have no internal heating system."
The annual mortality rate of crocodile hatchlings is estimated to be around 15 per cent at farms.
Wildlife Management International chief scientist Charlie Manolis conceded that researchers had failed to find a permanent solution to the problem.
Mr Manolis, based at Darwin's Crocodylus Park, feared the bacteria that had plagued the crocodile park was a new strain of chlamydia.
He said the bacteria differed from strains that had hit parks in Papua New Guinea, Zimbabwe and South Africa.
"It's the thing we don't want but normally it is treatable," he said.
Mr Manolis said hygiene practices at the park had been stepped up since the outbreak that could have been caused by a water bird.
Human drugs stop croc Chlamydia

HERALD SUN (Melbourne, Australia) 14 September 06 Pox ruled out in croc deaths
A new strain of pox virus has been ruled out as causing the death of up to 90 farm crocodiles in Darwin since June.
Northern Territory scientists said today tests had concluded the young crocs died of a chlamydial infection.
Veterinary pathologist Ian Jerrett said there was no evidence to support suggestions from South African scientist and crocodile expert Fritz Huchzermeyer that a new strain of the more serious pox virus could be responsible.
Dr Jerrett and a team of scientists with the Diagnostic Division of the Northern Territory Department of Primary Industry, Fisheries and Mines (DPIFM) have been investigating the deaths of the juvenile crocs for the past three months.
"We have conducted an exhaustive series of tests since the matter was first brought to our attention," Dr Jerrett said.
"We have conducted 90 autopsies so far.
"Lesions from 19 crocs have been investigated and they have all been positive for chlamydia."
Dr Jerrett said the NT findings had been supported by scientists at two Queensland laboratories.
But the widespread outbreak of chlamydia was still being investigated.
"Preliminary data suggests the unusually cold dry season and exposure of hatchlings to older, disease-carrying crocodiles are contributing factors," he said.
"Chlamydial infection is present at a low level in crocodiles under normal conditions.
"Our research suggests that it develops into a serious disease in susceptible hatchlings under conditions of cold stress or temperature fluctuations and simultaneous exposure to the organism.
"We believe the infection is then spread by direct contact or transmission through water."
Dr Jerrett said his team hoped to establish the source of the chlamydia during the next few weeks.
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,20411471-5005961,00.html

AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION 14 September 06 Crocodile disease could be 'form of pox'
A crocodile vet from South Africa has put forward a new theory about why thousands of Northern Territory crocodiles are dying.
A disease has been decimating stocks of crocodile hatchlings since it was discovered in June.
Crocodile experts have been struggling to diagnose the disease which causes the young saltwater crocodiles to suffocate.
Crocodile vet Fritz Huchzermeyer flew into Darwin to investigate and says the crocodiles could be suffering from a form of pox virus that has hit captive reptiles in South Africa.
But he says until there is a firm diagnosis, the focus will have to be on preventing the disease from spreading.
"The main thing is really to jack up the hygiene," he said.
Dr Huchzermeyer says it was originally thought the crocodiles were dying from chlamydia but the disease is not following the usual patterns.
"Here we have conjunctivitis, no hepatitis, high mortality, no response or hardly any response to antibiotics, and this puzzled us no end," he said.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/items/200609/1740534.htm?nt