[Centurion2000]

I have read, btw, that the crocodile is particularly lethal because any crocodile bite can kill you - not from the bite, but from the infection that sets in afterwards. They live in what are essentially pools of bacteria, and their teeth are laden with icky things that get into your bloodstream when they bite you.

Since they don’t die from living in this stuff, I guess it does stand to reason that the crocs (or gators) themselves have some built-in protection from it.

Komodo dragons must have similar properties as well. Their mouth and bites are considered the dirtiest wounds you can get.

[Liberty1970]

Since they don’t die from living in this stuff, I guess it does stand to reason that the crocs (or gators) themselves have some built-in protection from it.

Or the pathogens just don't target crocs/gators. Many (most?) pathogens are pretty specific in what host organisms they will cause problems in. And most bacteria and virii don't cause disease anyway, so simply having a lot of them around is not a cause for alarm in itself. Heck, I read the other day in Answers magazine that there are 10 bacteria in your body for every one of "your" body cells! Biologically speaking, you're a big mass of bacteria!