A free-ranging adult female American bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) presented with a degloving injury to the right manus. Insufficient healthy cutaneous tissue remained on the manus for primary closure. A porcine small intestinal submucosa (SIS) graft was sutured over the wound to promote skin regeneration. Additional treatment included gentamicin solution immersion therapy followed by topical glycerin impregnated with insulin and SilvaSorb® Gel. The initial porcine SIS graft began to fail after five days and was replaced. The second porcine SIS graft began to break down nine days after placement. The graft was allowed to disintegrate after a strong granulation bed had formed and served as a form of mechanical protection. Application of the porcine SIS graft in combination with gentamicin therapy and topical treatment resulted in complete healing of the manus 35 days after the initial placement of the porcine SIS graft and the patient was released.
{"title":"Use of a Porcine Small Intestinal Submucosa Graft to Treat a Degloving Injury in an American Bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana)","authors":"Corinna M. Hazelrig, Greg B Walth, S. Divers","doi":"10.5818/jhms-d-21-00032","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5818/jhms-d-21-00032","url":null,"abstract":"A free-ranging adult female American bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) presented with a degloving injury to the right manus. Insufficient healthy cutaneous tissue remained on the manus for primary closure. A porcine small intestinal submucosa (SIS) graft was sutured over the wound to promote skin regeneration. Additional treatment included gentamicin solution immersion therapy followed by topical glycerin impregnated with insulin and SilvaSorb® Gel. The initial porcine SIS graft began to fail after five days and was replaced. The second porcine SIS graft began to break down nine days after placement. The graft was allowed to disintegrate after a strong granulation bed had formed and served as a form of mechanical protection. Application of the porcine SIS graft in combination with gentamicin therapy and topical treatment resulted in complete healing of the manus 35 days after the initial placement of the porcine SIS graft and the patient was released.","PeriodicalId":16054,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Herpetological Medicine and Surgery","volume":"39 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139266070","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Brandon J. Louth, J. Jill Heatley, Karen E. Russell
Abstract Eastern collared lizards (Crotaphytus collaris) are growing in popularity as exotic pets in the United States and worldwide. However, clinical biochemistry reference data to support interpretation of health and disease for this species remains lacking. This study evaluated 87 apparently healthy Eastern collared lizards (Crotaphtyus collaris). Blood samples were collected from the ventral coccygeal vein and assayed via Abaxis VetScan VS2 and Avian Reptile rotor. While lizard weight and snout-vent length (SVL) were normally distributed, most biochemical analytes, except albumin and total protein, were not. Many analytes were affected, albeit slightly, by lizard age, SVL, body condition score, gravidity and/or recent ovoposition, sex, health status, and color/locality. However, except for calcium, phosphorous, and albumin for gravid or immediately post oviposition females, biochemical values remained within the generated reference interval. Limitations of this study included that the VetScan VS2 avian / reptile profile plus rotor was unable to successfully provide values for bile acids for most of these apparently healthy lizards. When compared to biochemistry analyte values of lizards from the suborder Iguania from the western hemisphere, Eastern collared lizard biochemistries were similar for some analytes, but a relatively increased plasma glucose and uric acid occurs in this species which could affect the diagnosis of clinical disease or other health abnormalities.
{"title":"Determination of Blood Biochemistry Reference Intervals in Eastern Collared Lizards (<i>Crotaphytus collaris</i>)","authors":"Brandon J. Louth, J. Jill Heatley, Karen E. Russell","doi":"10.5818/jhms-d-21-00035","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5818/jhms-d-21-00035","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Eastern collared lizards (Crotaphytus collaris) are growing in popularity as exotic pets in the United States and worldwide. However, clinical biochemistry reference data to support interpretation of health and disease for this species remains lacking. This study evaluated 87 apparently healthy Eastern collared lizards (Crotaphtyus collaris). Blood samples were collected from the ventral coccygeal vein and assayed via Abaxis VetScan VS2 and Avian Reptile rotor. While lizard weight and snout-vent length (SVL) were normally distributed, most biochemical analytes, except albumin and total protein, were not. Many analytes were affected, albeit slightly, by lizard age, SVL, body condition score, gravidity and/or recent ovoposition, sex, health status, and color/locality. However, except for calcium, phosphorous, and albumin for gravid or immediately post oviposition females, biochemical values remained within the generated reference interval. Limitations of this study included that the VetScan VS2 avian / reptile profile plus rotor was unable to successfully provide values for bile acids for most of these apparently healthy lizards. When compared to biochemistry analyte values of lizards from the suborder Iguania from the western hemisphere, Eastern collared lizard biochemistries were similar for some analytes, but a relatively increased plasma glucose and uric acid occurs in this species which could affect the diagnosis of clinical disease or other health abnormalities.","PeriodicalId":16054,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Herpetological Medicine and Surgery","volume":"447 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135481274","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Garrett C. Crooks, Jacquelyn K. Grace, Jianhua Guo, Alice Blue-McLendon, J. Jill Heatley
This study aimed to validate an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and create a reference interval for androstenedione from captive Texas tortoises (Gopherus berlandieri). Reference interval creation for androstenedione could allow comparison of an individual's values to others of the species in an effort to evaluate excess or deficiency and/or provide the basis for diagnosis of reproductive health or capability. In other species, androstenedione is associated with puberty onset and specific reproductive diseases; however, values and function of this hormone remain poorly studied in reptiles. The 25 adult male tortoises sampled were maintained at Texas A&M University's Winnie Carter Wildlife and Exotic Animal Center. Serum was assayed via a validated androstenedione ELISA. Male Texas tortoise serum androstenedione concentrations were found to be 5.40 ± 5.16 ng/ml (mean ± SD), with establishment of a reference interval of 0.57–18.58 ng/ml. Relatively increased androstenedione values were associated with increased carapace length, carapace height, and tortoise weight but not gular horn length of male Texas tortoises. This information may benefit the care, management, and reproduction of captive tortoises. Extrapolation should be considered for evaluation of other species until their own intervals are established. Further research should include determination of baseline values of androstenedione for both healthy and reproductively challenged female tortoises.
{"title":"Validation of an Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay and Establishment of a Reference Interval for Androstenedione in Texas Tortoises (Gopherus berlandieri)","authors":"Garrett C. Crooks, Jacquelyn K. Grace, Jianhua Guo, Alice Blue-McLendon, J. Jill Heatley","doi":"10.5818/jhms-d-22-00017","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5818/jhms-d-22-00017","url":null,"abstract":"This study aimed to validate an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and create a reference interval for androstenedione from captive Texas tortoises (Gopherus berlandieri). Reference interval creation for androstenedione could allow comparison of an individual's values to others of the species in an effort to evaluate excess or deficiency and/or provide the basis for diagnosis of reproductive health or capability. In other species, androstenedione is associated with puberty onset and specific reproductive diseases; however, values and function of this hormone remain poorly studied in reptiles. The 25 adult male tortoises sampled were maintained at Texas A&M University's Winnie Carter Wildlife and Exotic Animal Center. Serum was assayed via a validated androstenedione ELISA. Male Texas tortoise serum androstenedione concentrations were found to be 5.40 ± 5.16 ng/ml (mean ± SD), with establishment of a reference interval of 0.57–18.58 ng/ml. Relatively increased androstenedione values were associated with increased carapace length, carapace height, and tortoise weight but not gular horn length of male Texas tortoises. This information may benefit the care, management, and reproduction of captive tortoises. Extrapolation should be considered for evaluation of other species until their own intervals are established. Further research should include determination of baseline values of androstenedione for both healthy and reproductively challenged female tortoises.","PeriodicalId":16054,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Herpetological Medicine and Surgery","volume":"44 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"136308421","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kimberly M. Stewart, Terry M. Norton, Kathleen Clements, Mark A. Mitchell, Darryn L. Knobel
Historically, juvenile and subadult green (Chelonia mydas) and hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) sea turtles have been observed in the waters surrounding St. Kitts, West Indies yearround; however, no formal population or health assessment for these species and cohorts in St. Kitts has been previously conducted. During the study period (2004–2017), 211 juvenile sea turtles (158 hawksbills, 53 greens) were captured at sixteen different capture sites in St. Kitts. Once on shore and restrained, morphometric measurements and mass were collected, untagged animals were tagged, and a health assessment was performed. Blood samples were collected and used to establish reference intervals for hematological and biochemical parameters. These reported reference intervals make it possible to incorporate monitoring programs for infectious diseases and to identify any trends in population and health status. The morphometrics, mass, and number of animals captured enable sound decision making as it relates to conservation policy development and implementation which is especially important in countries such as St. Kitts and Nevis where an open harvest for sea turtles still exists.
{"title":"Clinical Pathology Reference Intervals for Juvenile Green (<i>Chelonia mydas</i>) and Hawksbill (<i>Eretmochelys imbricata</i>) Sea Turtles Captured in St. Kitts, 2004–2017","authors":"Kimberly M. Stewart, Terry M. Norton, Kathleen Clements, Mark A. Mitchell, Darryn L. Knobel","doi":"10.5818/jhms-d-20-00026","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5818/jhms-d-20-00026","url":null,"abstract":"Historically, juvenile and subadult green (Chelonia mydas) and hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) sea turtles have been observed in the waters surrounding St. Kitts, West Indies yearround; however, no formal population or health assessment for these species and cohorts in St. Kitts has been previously conducted. During the study period (2004–2017), 211 juvenile sea turtles (158 hawksbills, 53 greens) were captured at sixteen different capture sites in St. Kitts. Once on shore and restrained, morphometric measurements and mass were collected, untagged animals were tagged, and a health assessment was performed. Blood samples were collected and used to establish reference intervals for hematological and biochemical parameters. These reported reference intervals make it possible to incorporate monitoring programs for infectious diseases and to identify any trends in population and health status. The morphometrics, mass, and number of animals captured enable sound decision making as it relates to conservation policy development and implementation which is especially important in countries such as St. Kitts and Nevis where an open harvest for sea turtles still exists.","PeriodicalId":16054,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Herpetological Medicine and Surgery","volume":"7 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135981905","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract Sex determination in reptiles is important for implementing appropriate husbandry, successful pairing for breeding programs, and reproductive medical care. In reptile species that are not sexually dimorphic, accuracy in sex determination is dependent upon methods other than physical observation. Preferred sexing techniques should be quick, noninvasive, and reliable, and they should be able to be performed by veterinarians with a broad range of reptile experience. Vast anatomical differences among reptiles make the efficacy of these techniques highly variable between species. This study evaluated hemipenis contrast radiography and computed tomography techniques, previously described in other Heloderma species, to determine reliability in sexing 23 Gila monsters (Heloderma suspectum). The results were compared to the sex determined by coelomic ultrasound, which indicated that there were 8 females and 15 males. Identification of hemipenes in males was shown in 1/15 (7%) by contrast radiography and 9/15 (60%) by hemipenis contrast computed tomography. Outline of the cloacal rim in females was seen in 100% (8/8) by contrast radiography and 100% (8/8) by contrast computed tomography. Our findings suggest that contrast radiography and computed tomography are not reliable methods for sex determination in Gila monsters, and that coelomic ultrasound is currently the most reliable, noninvasive technique for this species.
{"title":"Evaluation of Contrast Radiography and Computed Tomography in Sex Determination of Gila Monsters (<i>Heloderma suspectum</i>)","authors":"Caitlin M. Cunningham, Mike Corcoran","doi":"10.5818/jhms-d-23-00018","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5818/jhms-d-23-00018","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Sex determination in reptiles is important for implementing appropriate husbandry, successful pairing for breeding programs, and reproductive medical care. In reptile species that are not sexually dimorphic, accuracy in sex determination is dependent upon methods other than physical observation. Preferred sexing techniques should be quick, noninvasive, and reliable, and they should be able to be performed by veterinarians with a broad range of reptile experience. Vast anatomical differences among reptiles make the efficacy of these techniques highly variable between species. This study evaluated hemipenis contrast radiography and computed tomography techniques, previously described in other Heloderma species, to determine reliability in sexing 23 Gila monsters (Heloderma suspectum). The results were compared to the sex determined by coelomic ultrasound, which indicated that there were 8 females and 15 males. Identification of hemipenes in males was shown in 1/15 (7%) by contrast radiography and 9/15 (60%) by hemipenis contrast computed tomography. Outline of the cloacal rim in females was seen in 100% (8/8) by contrast radiography and 100% (8/8) by contrast computed tomography. Our findings suggest that contrast radiography and computed tomography are not reliable methods for sex determination in Gila monsters, and that coelomic ultrasound is currently the most reliable, noninvasive technique for this species.","PeriodicalId":16054,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Herpetological Medicine and Surgery","volume":"2 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135981677","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
A 5-year-old male central bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps) presented with a three-day history of left forelimb lameness, minimal muscle tone, and absent pain sensation distal to the mid-humerus. Computed tomography (CT) revealed thickened and hypoattenuating soft tissues adjacent to the left scapulohumeral and left neck regions with no abnormal contrast enhancement. The suspected left external jugular vein in this region was ill-defined and small, with filling defects, consistent with the appearance of a venous thrombus. Focal ultrasound of the left side of the neck confirmed a thrombus in this location, just cranial to a jugular venous valve. The patient was treated with supportive care and started on clopidogrel as an antithrombotic treatment. Clinical improvement was minimal following this visit and the patient presented again five months later after declining significantly. On follow-up imaging at this visit, a suspected cardiac mass was seen on echocardiography. A fine-needle aspirate of the mass at that time was suspicious for a sarcoma, however the sample was non-diagnostic. The previously identified thrombus could not be detected on ultrasonography at this visit. The owner ultimately decided to pursue hospice care at home and no additional imaging or further workup was performed. This is the first report in reptiles describing a venous thrombus using diagnostic imaging. Given the reported occurrence of aneurysms and thrombi in bearded dragons in clinical practice, this case demonstrates the use of an important tool for diagnosis of these conditions.
{"title":"Novel Imaging Modalities for Antemortem Diagnosis of a Suspected Jugular Thrombus in a Bearded Dragon (Pogona vitticeps)","authors":"Agnes Galej, J. Robertson, Y. Hsieh","doi":"10.5818/jhms-d-22-00046","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5818/jhms-d-22-00046","url":null,"abstract":"A 5-year-old male central bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps) presented with a three-day history of left forelimb lameness, minimal muscle tone, and absent pain sensation distal to the mid-humerus. Computed tomography (CT) revealed thickened and hypoattenuating soft tissues adjacent to the left scapulohumeral and left neck regions with no abnormal contrast enhancement. The suspected left external jugular vein in this region was ill-defined and small, with filling defects, consistent with the appearance of a venous thrombus. Focal ultrasound of the left side of the neck confirmed a thrombus in this location, just cranial to a jugular venous valve. The patient was treated with supportive care and started on clopidogrel as an antithrombotic treatment. Clinical improvement was minimal following this visit and the patient presented again five months later after declining significantly. On follow-up imaging at this visit, a suspected cardiac mass was seen on echocardiography. A fine-needle aspirate of the mass at that time was suspicious for a sarcoma, however the sample was non-diagnostic. The previously identified thrombus could not be detected on ultrasonography at this visit. The owner ultimately decided to pursue hospice care at home and no additional imaging or further workup was performed. This is the first report in reptiles describing a venous thrombus using diagnostic imaging. Given the reported occurrence of aneurysms and thrombi in bearded dragons in clinical practice, this case demonstrates the use of an important tool for diagnosis of these conditions.","PeriodicalId":16054,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Herpetological Medicine and Surgery","volume":"474 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-08-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"76996502","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kennymac Durante, Julie D Sheldon, L. Adamovicz, P. Roady, K. Keller
A 2-yr-old female African side-neck turtle (Pelomedusa subrufa) housed at a pet store in Illinois, USA presented for evaluation of nasal discharge and an ulcerative skin lesion. Molecular diagnostics for Mycoplasma spp., herpesviruses and frog virus 3 (ranavirus) were negative and cytologic evaluation of the ulceration showed non-septic inflammation without fungal elements. A presumptive diagnosis of a bacterial upper respiratory infection was treated with ceftazidime (20 mg/kg SC every 72 hrs) and husbandry improvements were recommended. One month later, the turtle re-presented and physical examination revealed diffuse skin sloughing and severe dehydration, and the animal was euthanized. Necropsy and histopathology revealed multiple fungal granulomas throughout the liver, gastrointestinal tract, and lungs. Heavy growth of a white powdery fungal organism was obtained from culture. Four gene targets (D1/D2 domains of the 28S ribosomal DNA, 18S-28S ribosomal internal transcribed spacer region, actin and β-tubulin) were sequenced from the fungal isolate and each was >98% identical to Nannizziopsis arthrosporioides. A maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree constructed from concatenated D1/D2, ITS, actin, and β-tubulin sequences from Nannizziopsis spp. placed the new fungal isolate in a highly supported (99% bootstrap support) monophyletic group with two N. arthrosporioides isolates. This case report describes the first known N. arthrosporioides infection in an aquatic turtle species and adds to the growing literature surrounding N. arthrosporioides infections in non-squamate reptilian patients.
{"title":"Systemic Nannizziopsis arthrosporioides in an African Side-neck Turtle (Pelomedusa subrufa): Case report","authors":"Kennymac Durante, Julie D Sheldon, L. Adamovicz, P. Roady, K. Keller","doi":"10.5818/jhms-d-22-00023","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5818/jhms-d-22-00023","url":null,"abstract":"A 2-yr-old female African side-neck turtle (Pelomedusa subrufa) housed at a pet store in Illinois, USA presented for evaluation of nasal discharge and an ulcerative skin lesion. Molecular diagnostics for Mycoplasma spp., herpesviruses and frog virus 3 (ranavirus) were negative and cytologic evaluation of the ulceration showed non-septic inflammation without fungal elements. A presumptive diagnosis of a bacterial upper respiratory infection was treated with ceftazidime (20 mg/kg SC every 72 hrs) and husbandry improvements were recommended. One month later, the turtle re-presented and physical examination revealed diffuse skin sloughing and severe dehydration, and the animal was euthanized. Necropsy and histopathology revealed multiple fungal granulomas throughout the liver, gastrointestinal tract, and lungs. Heavy growth of a white powdery fungal organism was obtained from culture. Four gene targets (D1/D2 domains of the 28S ribosomal DNA, 18S-28S ribosomal internal transcribed spacer region, actin and β-tubulin) were sequenced from the fungal isolate and each was >98% identical to Nannizziopsis arthrosporioides. A maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree constructed from concatenated D1/D2, ITS, actin, and β-tubulin sequences from Nannizziopsis spp. placed the new fungal isolate in a highly supported (99% bootstrap support) monophyletic group with two N. arthrosporioides isolates. This case report describes the first known N. arthrosporioides infection in an aquatic turtle species and adds to the growing literature surrounding N. arthrosporioides infections in non-squamate reptilian patients.","PeriodicalId":16054,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Herpetological Medicine and Surgery","volume":"31 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-08-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"73766816","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
A. Boon, Marley E. Iredale, Steve Tillis, R. Ossiboff
Ophidian serpentoviruses, initially referred to as nidoviruses, were first documented in captive pythons nearly ten years ago. Since then, much has been learned about these important pathogens, now classified in subfamily Serpentovirinae of family Tobaniviridae and representing an important emerging pathogen that threatens captive snakes. Serpentoviral infections are best characterized in pythons (family Pythonidae), but have also been documented in boas (family Boidae) and colubrids (family Colubridae), as well as shingleback skinks (Tiliqua rugosa), veiled chameleons (Chamaeleo calyptratus), and the Bellinger River snapping turtle (Myuchelys georgesi). Clinical signs include increased oral mucous secretion, oral mucosal reddening, dyspnea, anorexia, and weight loss. Subclinical infections can also occur, and multiple studies report a lack of correlation between clinical signs and presence of serpentoviral nucleic acids in snakes. Lesions associated with serpentoviral infections predominantly occur in the upper respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts but can also extend to the lungs. Microscopically, these lesions may consist of inflammation, epithelial proliferation, and proliferative interstitial pneumonias, which can be complicated by concurrent bacterial bronchopneumonia. The most common method of diagnosis is reverse transcription PCR to detect viral RNA, and oral/choanal swabs are reliable samples for ante- or postmortem diagnosis. Specific treatment protocols have not yet been described, and management is based on supportive care. This manuscript presents a narrative review of all serpentovirus publications to date with perspective from researchers working to further characterize these pathogens, with the goal of serving as a comprehensive clinical and diagnostic overview for clinicians, zoological curatorial staff, wildlife biologists, and hobbyists.
{"title":"Ophidian Serpentoviruses: A Review and Perspective","authors":"A. Boon, Marley E. Iredale, Steve Tillis, R. Ossiboff","doi":"10.5818/jhms-d-23-00010","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5818/jhms-d-23-00010","url":null,"abstract":"Ophidian serpentoviruses, initially referred to as nidoviruses, were first documented in captive pythons nearly ten years ago. Since then, much has been learned about these important pathogens, now classified in subfamily Serpentovirinae of family Tobaniviridae and representing an important emerging pathogen that threatens captive snakes. Serpentoviral infections are best characterized in pythons (family Pythonidae), but have also been documented in boas (family Boidae) and colubrids (family Colubridae), as well as shingleback skinks (Tiliqua rugosa), veiled chameleons (Chamaeleo calyptratus), and the Bellinger River snapping turtle (Myuchelys georgesi). Clinical signs include increased oral mucous secretion, oral mucosal reddening, dyspnea, anorexia, and weight loss. Subclinical infections can also occur, and multiple studies report a lack of correlation between clinical signs and presence of serpentoviral nucleic acids in snakes. Lesions associated with serpentoviral infections predominantly occur in the upper respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts but can also extend to the lungs. Microscopically, these lesions may consist of inflammation, epithelial proliferation, and proliferative interstitial pneumonias, which can be complicated by concurrent bacterial bronchopneumonia. The most common method of diagnosis is reverse transcription PCR to detect viral RNA, and oral/choanal swabs are reliable samples for ante- or postmortem diagnosis. Specific treatment protocols have not yet been described, and management is based on supportive care. This manuscript presents a narrative review of all serpentovirus publications to date with perspective from researchers working to further characterize these pathogens, with the goal of serving as a comprehensive clinical and diagnostic overview for clinicians, zoological curatorial staff, wildlife biologists, and hobbyists.","PeriodicalId":16054,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Herpetological Medicine and Surgery","volume":"98 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-08-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"81182099","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Katya Spitznagel, Miranda J. Sadar, Erin Willis, J. Brandão
There is limited knowledge on amphibian sedation, and drug doses appear to be species-specific and affected by the administration route. Alfaxalone, a neuroactive steroid, has gained popularity in veterinary medicine and has been evaluated in some amphibian species. Previous studies in amphibians have demonstrated a sedative dose range of 10-30 mg/kg IM. No peer-review publication has investigated this drug in Sonoran Desert toads specifically. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to 1) determine the effective dose 50 (ED50) of IM alfaxalone for sedation and 2) determine the cardiopulmonary effects of the effective dose 99 (ED99) in 13 Sonoran Desert toads. Using the Dixon’s Up-and-Down method, the ED50 was calculated as 9.02 mg/kg while using a non-linear regression, the calculated ED50 was 9.65 mg/kg, and the ED99 was 9.91 mg/kg. Based on these results, 10 mg/kg IM was administered, and its cardiovascular effects were determined for 120 mins post-injection. The 10 mg/kg IM dose resulted in significant transient cardiorespiratory depression in all toads, with most toads (11/13) showing signs of sedation (recumbency and/or loss of righting reflex) within 30–40-minutes post-injection. There was no associated mortality with this study, and the side effects associated with this dosage (cardiorespiratory depression, ventral erythema, dysphoric behavior such as rolling and head pressing) resolved in all toads prior to the end of the 120-minute observation window. This study hopes to increase the understanding of the clinical application and limitations of this drug for sedation of Sonoran Desert toads.
{"title":"Intramuscular Alfaxalone Effective Dose (ED) Determination and Cardiopulmonary Effects of ED99 in Sonoran Desert Toads (Incilius alvarius)","authors":"Katya Spitznagel, Miranda J. Sadar, Erin Willis, J. Brandão","doi":"10.5818/jhms-d-23-00004","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5818/jhms-d-23-00004","url":null,"abstract":"There is limited knowledge on amphibian sedation, and drug doses appear to be species-specific and affected by the administration route. Alfaxalone, a neuroactive steroid, has gained popularity in veterinary medicine and has been evaluated in some amphibian species. Previous studies in amphibians have demonstrated a sedative dose range of 10-30 mg/kg IM. No peer-review publication has investigated this drug in Sonoran Desert toads specifically. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to 1) determine the effective dose 50 (ED50) of IM alfaxalone for sedation and 2) determine the cardiopulmonary effects of the effective dose 99 (ED99) in 13 Sonoran Desert toads. Using the Dixon’s Up-and-Down method, the ED50 was calculated as 9.02 mg/kg while using a non-linear regression, the calculated ED50 was 9.65 mg/kg, and the ED99 was 9.91 mg/kg. Based on these results, 10 mg/kg IM was administered, and its cardiovascular effects were determined for 120 mins post-injection. The 10 mg/kg IM dose resulted in significant transient cardiorespiratory depression in all toads, with most toads (11/13) showing signs of sedation (recumbency and/or loss of righting reflex) within 30–40-minutes post-injection. There was no associated mortality with this study, and the side effects associated with this dosage (cardiorespiratory depression, ventral erythema, dysphoric behavior such as rolling and head pressing) resolved in all toads prior to the end of the 120-minute observation window. This study hopes to increase the understanding of the clinical application and limitations of this drug for sedation of Sonoran Desert toads.","PeriodicalId":16054,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Herpetological Medicine and Surgery","volume":"23 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-08-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"87703977","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Christian M. Capobianco, Emma A. Clarke, J. Muñoz-Pérez, Daniela Alarcon Ruales, A. Loyola, Stuart T. Ayala, Alice Skehel, Kimberly E. Guzman, C. Valle, G. Lewbart
This paper presents novel baseline health parameters on the Española lava lizard (Microlophus delanonis). Blood samples and morphological measurements were taken on 51 lizards (21 males, 30 females) captured from three locations on the island of Española. Morphologic parameters measured included body weight, snout-vent length, and temperature. Blood samples were analyzed approximately eight hours after collection using a portable blood analyzer (i-STAT) which measured hemoglobin, total CO2, glucose, lactate, sodium, potassium, and ionized calcium. Hematologic characterization data were obtained using standard laboratory techniques. There were significant differences found in snout-vent length, weight, heart rate, respiratory rate, total CO2, and heterophil percentage between males and females. The data presented here can be used to monitor the health of this population of lava lizards as well as help to understand the health of a related species, the San Cristóbal lava lizard (Microlophus bivittatus), which faces different evolutionary pressures including the presence of humans and feral cats. This study continues to widen our understanding of the Microlophus genus; however, further research should be done to characterize the remaining species that inhabit the islands in the Galápagos archipelago.
{"title":"Hematology and Biochemistry of the Española Lava Lizard (Microlophus delanonis)","authors":"Christian M. Capobianco, Emma A. Clarke, J. Muñoz-Pérez, Daniela Alarcon Ruales, A. Loyola, Stuart T. Ayala, Alice Skehel, Kimberly E. Guzman, C. Valle, G. Lewbart","doi":"10.5818/jhms-d-23-00002","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5818/jhms-d-23-00002","url":null,"abstract":"This paper presents novel baseline health parameters on the Española lava lizard (Microlophus delanonis). Blood samples and morphological measurements were taken on 51 lizards (21 males, 30 females) captured from three locations on the island of Española. Morphologic parameters measured included body weight, snout-vent length, and temperature. Blood samples were analyzed approximately eight hours after collection using a portable blood analyzer (i-STAT) which measured hemoglobin, total CO2, glucose, lactate, sodium, potassium, and ionized calcium. Hematologic characterization data were obtained using standard laboratory techniques. There were significant differences found in snout-vent length, weight, heart rate, respiratory rate, total CO2, and heterophil percentage between males and females. The data presented here can be used to monitor the health of this population of lava lizards as well as help to understand the health of a related species, the San Cristóbal lava lizard (Microlophus bivittatus), which faces different evolutionary pressures including the presence of humans and feral cats. This study continues to widen our understanding of the Microlophus genus; however, further research should be done to characterize the remaining species that inhabit the islands in the Galápagos archipelago.","PeriodicalId":16054,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Herpetological Medicine and Surgery","volume":"115 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-08-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"74374853","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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