MYCOTIC DERMATITIS IN JUVENILE FRESHWATER CROCODILES (CROCODYLUS JOHNSTONI) CAUSED BY NANNIZZIOPSIS CROCODILI

Abstract

Nannizziopsis crocodili, a contagious, keratinophilic fungus, was identified from biopsied tissue in a captive juvenile freshwater crocodile during an outbreak of severe multifocal dermatitis affecting four of five crocodiles. Lesions progressed from superficial, well-demarcated ulceration of scales, to black pigmentation, localized edema, erythema, and flattening of the scales. Treatment with topical enilconazole provided clinical improvement in three of four crocodiles but all developed terminal gout. One crocodile did not develop clinical disease despite long-term exposure. This is the first report of N. crocodili in freshwater crocodiles and in a location remote to the index Australian case.