ABSTRACT

Determination of fungal infections in the Nile crocodile eggs was studied on the crocodile farm

in Samochima, Okavango, Botswana. The main objective was to determine fungal infection on

the unhatched Nile crocodile eggs and the sources of infection. Natural nests on the same village

were also studied for comparison. Fungal infections are a major problem on this farm with huge

early embryonic death. A total of 50 eggs were studied, 25 from the farm and 25 from the

natural nests (controls). Vermiculites, soils from farm and natural nests, feces from crocodile

laying mothers and livers from mortalities on the farm were also studied. Eggs were categorized

into EED-Early Embryonic deaths, VEED- Very Early Embryonic Deaths, II-Infertile Infected

and INI-Infertile Not Infected by use of candling method. All samples were cultured for the

presence of common fungal species at 25oC on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA). Fungal infections

were determined from the egg membrane, egg yolk and albumen and all other samples cultured.

Slides were prepared from the fungal plates and observed under microscope. LCD (liquid crystal

display) microscope was used to take photographs of the fungi. Common fungal isolates from all

the samples cultured were those of Penicillium, Aspergillus and Fusarium species. The same

fungi were isolated from farm and natural habitat eggs. These included Aspergillus flavus,

Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus sydowi, Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium moniliforme,

Penicillium granulatum and Penicillium oxalicum. Egg yolk, egg membrane and albumen had

fungi from three fungal species (Penicillium, Aspergillus and Fusarium). In addition to fungal

infections it was concluded that there might be other conditions responsible for the poor

hatchability and mortalities leading to loss of production at the Krokovango crocodile farm since
eggs from outside the farm had the same fungal isolates but had no problems of poor

hatchabilities.

By shirley nkwena