The attractiveness of two vertebrate pest-control baits (non-toxic RS5 and Pindone-impregnated AgTech) to captive skinks (Oligosoma maccanni) was assessed with timelapse video and feeding trials in New Zealand. 0. maccanni were attracted to both bait types. When dry, pindone baits were more palatable than RS5 baits. However, when wet the palatability of both baits increased and was similar. Bait size had no significant effect on palatability. Lizards ate an average of 0.01 g of RS5 bait or 0.02 g of Agtech Pindone bait, over two days. On the basis of published susceptibility data, it is unlikely that this level of consumption would expose skinks to lethal doses of these vertebrate pest toxins. Potential sublethal effects of such doses require further study.

Aeromonas hydrophila is ubiquitous in the freshwater environment and although it caused septicaemia in the one individual that was submitted for laboratory diagnosis, the primary aetiology of the outbreak may not have been identified.

Cutaneous trombidiosis caused by larvae of trombiculid mites (Vercammenia gloriosa and V. zweifelorum) in the skin of a wild tree frog, Litoria wilcoxii, in northern Queensland, Australia manifested as small, domed vesicular lesions on the dorsal and lateral surfaces posterior to the eyes. The lesions contained small, orange trombiculid mites, with a surrounding minimal inflammatory reaction. The general health and behaviour of the frog appeared unaffected. Provisional diagnosis of cutaneous trombidiosis can be made from its distinctive clinical appearance and confirmed by biopsy with direct microscopic examination of mites. This case report represents a new host record.