specific conditions of reptiles

what common conditions of chelonians do we see in practice?

• metabolic bone disease

• follicular stasis

• respiratory infections

• trauma

• overgrown beak

what conditions do we see that are specific to chelonians?

• mycoplasma / herpesvirus respiratory complex

• shell injury

• GI impaction and constipation

• cystoliths

• ulcerative shell dermatitis (SCUD)

• myiasis

what causes chelonian herpesvirus?

Testudinid HPV 1-4

what does chelonian herpesvirus cause?

• necrotising stomatitis

• diphtheroid plates

• secondary rhinitis and conjunctivitis

• hepatitis

what mycoplasma species do we see in chelonians?

• Mycoplasma agassizzi

• M. testudineum

what does mycoplasma cause in chelonians?

• rhinitis

• conjunctivitis

do we see subclinical or latent infections with mycoplasma / herpesvirus complex in chelonians?

• chelonian herpesvirus - latent infections common

• mycoplasma - subclinical and latent infections common

what are risk factors for herpesvirus / mycoplasma in chelonians?

• young, debilitated individuals

• immunosuppressed patients

• frequent post-purchase

• african and south american species vs mediterranean

how do we diagnose herpesvirus / mycoplasma complex in chelonians?

• specific PCR - oral swab

• serology - useful for latent infections

• radiography - assess lungs and possible secondary infections

• ultrasound if hepatic effects suspected

• CT useful

• biochem + haematology - assess overall condition

how do we treat mycoplasma?

• systemic antibiotics - doxycycline, clarithromycin, fluroquinolones

• eye drops - oxytetracycline, gentamycin, ciprofloxacin

• nebulisation - aminoglycosides

• supportive care - POTZ, fluids and feeding

is there a treatment for HPV?

no

• give supplemental fluids and feeding

what can cause respiratory signs in chelonians?

• herpes virus / mycoplasma complex

• bacterial infections

• viral infections

  • ranavirus

  • picornavirus

  • ferlavirus (paramyxovirus)

• coelomic masses / effusions

what is difference between a terrapin and a turtle?

• turtles - fully aquatic, no feet, just flippers

• terrapins - semi aquatic, have feet with flippers

• note - in america terrapins are also referred to as turtles

what conditions are more common in terrapins and turtles than tortoises?

• ulcerative shell dermatitis

• bacterial pneumonia

• aural abscesses

what chelonians are affected by myiasis?

mainly tortoises - especially hibernating species (mediterranean)

what specific conditions are seen in lizards?

• facial trauma

• intra-oral disease

• fungal dermatitis

• cysoliths

• cholelithiasis

• gastric neuroendocrine carcinoma

• adenovirus

• papillomavirus

• tail rot

when do we see rostral abrasions in lizards?

• frequent in water dragons and basilisks

• after repeated trauma on vivarium glass

what can rostral abrasions lead to?

• progressive ulceration

• stomatitis

• teeth loss

• osteomyelitis

how do we treat rostral abrasions?

• antibiotics - ceftazidime

• chlorhexidine topical

• analgesia e.g. meloxicam

• may need debridement in severe cases

• rethink design of vivarium - decor, reduce stress, visual barriers

what species is periodontal disease most common in?

chameleons and agamid lizards

what would we see on clinical exam in a lizard with periodontal disease?

• gingivitis

• tartar and periodontal pockets

• gingival recession or hyperplasia

• loss of teeth

• bone exposure ± osteomyelitis/abscesses

• pathological fractures

• septicaemia

how would we diagnose periodontal disease?

intra-oral dental radiography ideal

what is the pathophysiology of periodontal disease?

incorrect diet

—> tartar / plaque build up

—> bacterial overgrowth

—> gingivitis

—> loss of periodontal ligament and osteolysis

how would we treat periodontal disease in lizards?

• correct diet

• GA + scale and polish every 6-12 months

• chlorhexidine topical

• antibiotics - ideally do C&S, ceftazidime is good first choice

what is yellow fungus disease?

fungal dermatitis

what fungi cause fungal dermatitis / yellow fungus disease?

• Devriesia agamarum (frequent in Uromastyx lizards)

• Chrysosporium guarroi

• Chrysosporium anamorph of Nannizziopsis vriesii

what are clinical signs of fungal dermatitis?

• yellow discoloration / crusts

• any area of skin but frequent around lips

• weight loss and non-specific signs

what can fungal dermatitis lead to?

secondary infection with bacteria

why is fungal dermatitis a big issue?

highly contagious and persistent

how do we diagnose fungal dermatitis?

• skin scrapes

• cytology

• biopsies and histology

• PCR

how do we treat fungal dermatitis?

• Terbinafine or Itraconazole may be useful

• topical iodine

• surgical debridement

• supportive care

what species are affected with cystoliths most?

agamid lizards (iguanas, bearded dragons, uromastyx)

what causes cystoliths?

• High Ca/oxalate diet (spinach, beets)

• Excessive supplements

• Excessive protein

• Dehydration

how do we treat cystoliths in lizards?

surgical treatment best

what species are affected most with cholelithiasis?

agamids (iguanas, bearded dragons)

what causes cholelithiasis?

high fat / high protein diet in adults

what are clinical signs of cholelithiasis?

• anorexia

• coelomic pain

• coelomic effusions

• weight loss

• may be asymptomatic

how do we diagnose cholelithiasis?

• ultrasound - look for evidence of sludge

• bloods can be variable + may have concurrent hepatic disease

how do we treat cholelithiasis?

diet change and surgery

what animals does gastric neuroendocrine carcinoma effect?

bearded dragons

more common in young animals

what are clinical signs of gastric neuroendocrine carcinoma?

• anorexia

• lack of faeces

• dehydration

• emesis

how do we diagnose gastric neuroendocrine carcinoma?

• Haematology shows anaemia

• Biochemistry may show hepatic changes

• Hyperglycaemia

what is the prognosis for gastric neuroendocrine carcinoma?

poor - rapidly metastasises to liver

what animals are affected by adenovirus?

bearded dragons, Jackson’s chameleona, savannah monitors

usually juveniles

how is adenovirus transmitted?

faeco-oral transmission

highly infectious

what clinical signs do we see with adenovirus?

• non specific illness

• weight loss

• diarrhoea

• failure to thrive

• sudden death

how do we diagnose adenovirus?

• PCR of blood or liver

• histopathology

how do we treat adenovirus?

• intensive supportive care

• antibiotics for secondary infections

• NSAIDs

what animals are affected by papillomavirus?

chameleons - pathers and veiled

what lesions does papillomavirus cause?

benign, wart-like cutaneous growths

what clinical signs do we see with papillomavirus?

• lethargy

• anorexia if heavy burden

is papillomavirus contagious?

no - self-limiting but can be recurrent or chronic

how do we diagnose papillomavirus?

histopathology of lesions

how do we treat papillomavirus?

• supportive care

• removal of singular masses

• investigate immune deficiency in recurrent cases

what is tail rot?

necrosis of distal tail

what can cause tail rot?

• tauma

• thromboemboli

what animals is tail rot common in?

bearded dragons, iguanas, water dragons

common in younger animals but can be any age

how do we diagnose tail rot?

• clinical signs

• x-ray

• bloods and FEC

how do we treat tail rot?

amputate tail

what problems do we see commonly in snakes?

• stomatitis

• sunshine virus

• IBD

• anorexia

• respiratory signs

• retained shed

what can cause stomatitis?

multifactorial

• immunosuppression

• trauma - e.g. when striking prey

• microbial agents

how do we diagnose stomatitis?

• clinical exam

• blood

• cytology

• C&S

how do we treat stomatitis?

• husbandry corrections

• antibiotics

• chlorhexidine topical

what are possible viral causes of stomatitis (primary) in snakes?

• Reptarenavirus/Inclusion Body Disease

• Paramyxovirus (es)

• Nidovirus

• Ranavirus

• Picornavirus

how do we diagnose and treat viral primary stomatitis?

• diagnose with PCR

• no treatment

what is viral primary stomatitis often associated with?

respiratory, skin and neuro signs

what are possible bacterial causes of stomatitis (primary) in snakes?

• gram negative - Pseudomonas, Aeromonas, Proteus, E.coli

• Anaerobic - Bacteroides, Fusobacterium

• Mycobacterium spp

how do we diagnose and treat primary bacterial stomatitis in snakes?

• C&S

• antibiotics - Ceftazidime or marbofloxacin

what is sunshine virus?

• specific paramyxovirus affecting pythons

• severe respiratory disease also neurological signs

what are clinical signs of sunshine virus?

• pneumonia

• stomatitis

• anorexia and lethargy

• orhopnoea

• star-gazing, loss of righting, strike problems

how is sunshine virus spread?

• aerosol

• vertical transmission

• mite spread

how do we diagnose sunshine virus?

PCR of blood, oral swabs, histopathology

is there a treatment for sunshine virus?

no specific treatment

what snakes are affected with inclusion body disease?

boas, pythons and green anaconda

what type of virus is inclusion body disease?

arenavirus

how is inclusion body disease transmitted?

mites, direct transmission or fomites

highly infectious

what are clinical signs of inclusion body disease?

• star-gazing, loss of righting, strike problems, torticollis, paralysis

• anorexia and weight loss

• respiratory and GI signs due to immune deficiency

how do we diagnose inclusion body disease?

• histopathology of liver, brain, kidney and CNS

• PCR on oral/cloacal swabs, blood and tissues

is there treatment for inclusion body disease?

no effective treatment - normally euthanised

quarantine is essential for control