Impact of Poxvirus Infection on Crocodile Skin Quality: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Crocodile poxvirus infection causes small superficial lesions covered by dark brownish crusts or scabs. This infection is of importance in crocodile farming due to its potential impact on the tanned hide. The objective of this study was to systematically review literature on the effect of poxvirus infection on crocodile skin quality. The study systematically used four search engines: Google Scholar, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science to search for literature. A total of five articles (n = 5) were included in the study. The results showed that only three (n = 3) articles reported that poxvirus infection has an effect on raw/tanned skin quality in crocodiles, depending on harvest time, as well as stage and severity of the infection. The limitation of this systematic review is that out of the five included articles, only three ascertained the impact of crocodile poxvirus on the raw/tanned skin. The systematic review concluded that poxvirus infection has an effect on the quality of crocodile hides.