Chelonians and reptile diseases

What does the group chelonians include

Turtles, Tortoises, & Terrapins

Where do turtles live?

Where do tortoises live?-

Where to terrapins live?-

Water

land

semi aquatic

What is a carapace?

What is a plastron

Top of shell

bottom of shell

Do turtles undergo ecdysis

they go through fragmental ecdysis throughout life

How are the scutes broken down

?- Nuchel, centrals, costals, Marginals, Supracaudals

Where is the chelonian heart located

cranial to the lungs

What is the purpose of the chelonian bladder

purpose is water storage, Water can be reabsorbed into the colon if the animal needs it

Where do the chelonian ureters empty to

urodeum

How much is the volume of lungs reduced to when the head and limbs are retracted in chelonians

1/5^th. They are obligated nasal breathers like horses and rabbits

What do chelonians have in their lungs instead of alveoli

Favioli due to lung compartments

Do chelonians have a diaphragm

no they have strong trunk muscles

Where can chelonians absorb oxygen through

?- through their cloaca or through their shell  

What are the sections of the chelonian intestines

no distinct sections it takes 8 weeks for intestinal epithelium to regenerate

How long does GI transit take in chelonians

2-4 weeks

What is chemical digestion dependent on in chelonians

environmental temperatures. No digestion occurs if the environmental temp is below 45 degrees

How can chelonians be sexed?

as adults, often sexually dimorphic, plastrons are concave in males. Males red iris females have yellow iris

How often do chelonians breed

usually annually, some only breed 3-4 years; it is dependent upon rainfall, humidity, food availability, presence of a suitable mate

How long can female chelonians store sperm

4-6 years

How do turtles open there mouths

by lowering their mandible

What is unique about chelonian eyes?-  

have harderian glands that secrete tears, have no nasolacrimal ducts, they more cones than rods in their retina.

What sense in chelonians is excellent

olfactory nerves

do They have external ears

no, they have a tympanic membrane covering ear holes

What are some enclosure considerations for chelonians

Aquatic- deep leak-proof container, Terrestrial- shallow water available, size should be about 10 times the size of the carapace. Larger-sized land or water allows natural grazing or prey tech on ideal food

Which type of chelonian is humidity more important in

tortoise

If housing turtles, what do you need to have

If outside wire bottom no recommended, must be careful of ventilation for non-aquatic, large plastic containers work well as long as you can keep other pets away

What types of diets can chelonians have

Herbivorous- weeds, flowers, grasses, pellets, avoid- Rhubarb, daffodils, potatoes, in moderation- spinach, cabbage, beet greens.

What do they need supplemented?

calcium/iodine/vitamin D3 and vitamin A

What are omnivorous chelonians fed?-

50% of diet should be protein. When young should be offered 80% plant material to 20 % meat as adults. Can feed slugs, snails, earthworms, millipedes, maggots. Plants- squash, carrots, kale, escarole. Parsley, green beans

What parasites of humans do we need to be concerned about

watercress- Fasciola hepatica

What are carnivorous chelonians fed

fish if caught wild they need to be put in a salt bath to reduce pathogen burden, gold fish are too fatty for the staple part of their diet, if frozen, they must be supplemented with thiamine

What vessels can be used for blood collection in chelonians?-

jugular ideal site point, needle towards the heart, subcarapacial vein, max of 5-8 ml/kg of body weight  can be collected

What typically causes Gram-negative opportunistic pathogens in snakes

What systems are affected?- poor nutrition, improper environment, humidity, and temp. systems affected are respiratory, Gastro, skin

What typically causes fungal infections in snakes

husbandry problems, high humidity, and poor ventilation, poor antimicrobial selection leading to fungal enteritis

What are the clinical signs of paramyxovirus infections in snakes?

transmission- respiratory secretions, clinical signs- nasal discharge, purulent hemorrhagic discharge from the glottis, CNS signs. Prevention- quarantine for at least 3 months prior to introduction new pet

What causes inclusion body disease in snakes

What are the clinical signs? What is the suspected link?- cause is retrovirus ( AIDS, FIV, EIA) clinical signs-  boas- regurgitation, CNS dysfunction, Pythons- loss of righting response, opisthotonos, paralysis, wt loss. Suspected link- snake mite Ophionyssus natricis

What are some internal and external parasites of snakes

ticks- around eyes, oral cavity, and gular fold, snake mites, Cryptosporidium, Eimeria, Isospora, Cestodes, Nematodes.

What are some nutritional diseases of snakes

poor husbandry- anorexia and cachexia, obesity leading to secondary diseases, calcium deficiency- poorly fed insects, pinkies who have not been fed shortly before death

What are some nutritional diseases of lizards

MBD, hypovitaminosis A

What causes metabolic bone disease?

What are the clinical signs?- Dietary calcium deficiency, excessive phosphorus in diet, and vitamin D3 deficiency, lack of UVA rays. Clinical signs- anorexia, lethargy, inability to walk normal, swollen/ distorted mandible/maxilla, pathological fractures, cloacal fractures

What are clinical signs of hypovitaminosis A in lizards

anorexia, stunted growth, periocular edema, squamous metaplasia, dermatologic disease.

What disease can be seen commonly in green iguanas and why

Renal disease, lack of loop of Henle.

What is gout

a uric acid metabolism disorder, urates deposited near or around joints

What viral diseases can chelonians get? What are the clinical signs? What is treatment

herpes and Iridovirus, clinical signs-  stomatitis, Rhinitis, conjunctivitis, ventral neck edema, dehydration, neurological signs, dysphagia, dyspnea, nasal discharge.

What are some other diseases of chelonians

tapeworms, Ascarids, Hypovitaminosis A, MBD

What causes carapacial pyramiding

high protein diet