Possible chinks in the crocodile armour: Defining skin microflora
Crocodiles are iconic Australian animals. They are also the source of fine, hard wearing leather prized by the world’s leading fashion houses. The commercial crocodile...
33 pages
Published: 1 Jul 2000
Author(s): G.Buenviaje, R.G.Hirst, P.M.Summers
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The major focus of the intensive farming of crocodiles is the production of high quality skins to supply the expanding demand for high quality leather. However, any blemishes on the skin that may have resulted from diseases of the skin will substantially downgrade the economic value of the skin.
The very fact that farmed crocodiles live in an aquatic environment and at high density will favour the spread of microrganisms capable of inducing diseases of the skin. Because crocodile farming is a relatively new animal industry, there is a paucity of scientific knowledge on the causes, treatment and control of skin diseases.