Amphibians

Question 1

What are the most common amphibian diseases?

Answer 1

Water quality problems
Bacterial dermatosepticemia
Mycobacteriosis
Chromomycosis
Saprolegniasis
Chytridiomycosis
Capillariasis
Lucke’s tumor
Iridoviruses

Question 2

What are the main causes of water quality diseases in amphibians?

Answer 2

Ammonia-nitrate-nitrite toxicities
Temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH
Buildup of waste
Chlorine, chloramine, heavy metal toxicities

Question 3

Clinical signs of water quality problems?

Answer 3

Skin/gill irritation, epithelial hyperplasia, lethargy, reduced growth

Question 4

Treatment/control of water quality problems?

Answer 4

Filtration, sanitation practices

Question 5

Bacterial dermatosepticemia is also called:

Answer 5

Red-leg syndrome
Red-leg disease

Question 6

Bacterial dermatosepticemia mostly affects:

Answer 6

Frogs, salamanders, aquatic larval stages

Question 7

Main causative agent for bacterial dermatosepticemia?

Answer 7

Aeromonas hydrophila
Infection secondary to stress, trauma, poor water

Question 8

Control/management of bacterial dermatosepticemia?

Answer 8

Sanitation, environmental quality, optimal nutrition

Question 9

Mycobacteriosis in amphibians are caused by what general type of mycobacterium species?

Answer 9

Non-tubercular species

Question 10

Clinical signs of mycobacteriosis?

Answer 10

Chronic wasting disease, skin ulcerations, decreased fecundity

Question 11

Treatment of mycobacteriosis?

Answer 11

Control by environmental sanitation
Euthanasia recommended because of zoonotic potential

Question 12

General characteristics of saprolegniasis?

Answer 12

Fungal disease: Saprolegnia, Aphanomyces
Spread by motile zoospores in water
Opportunistic pathogens of the skin or eggs

Question 13

Clinical signs of saprolegniasis?

Answer 13

White, cottony growths on skin

Question 14

Control of saprolegniasis?

Answer 14

Environmental quality, sanitation, good nutrition

Question 15

Chromomycosis is caused by:

Answer 15

Fungus- Cladosporium, Foncecaea

Question 16

Clinical signs of Chromomycosis:

Answer 16

Disseminated, pigmented granulomas in skin and internal organs

Question 17

Treatment for Chromomycosis:

Answer 17

Euthanasia due to zoonotic potential, therapeutics not warranted

Question 18

Chytridiomycosis causative agent:

Answer 18

Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis

Question 19

Clinical signs of Chytridiomycosis:

Answer 19

Sudden death with no obvious clinical signs
Non-specific signs: lethargy, excessive skin shedding, ventral erythema, petechiation
Deformities of keratin mouth in tadpoles
Cutaneous lesions on toes

Question 20

Infection in adult amphibians with Chytrid includes what clinical signs:

Answer 20

Hyperkeratosis
Epidermal hyperplasia
Ulceration
Edema
Congestion of epidermis

Question 21

Why is death so common in Chytrid?

Answer 21

Due to loss of cutaneous integrity
Impairs osmotic regulation and oxygen exchange

Question 22

Diagnosis of Chytrid?

Answer 22

ID fungal agent in skin scrapings
Biopsies of toes or skin lesions
PCR for Chytrid DNA

Question 23

Treatment of Chytrid?

Answer 23

ONLY recommended if valuable organism
Soak for 5 min daily for 11 days in itraconazole or miconazole bath
Thorough disinfection of tanks to rid toxic residue

Question 24

General characteristic of capillariasis?

Answer 24

Cutaneous infection of frogs
Migration of nematodes with secondary infections

Question 25

Clinical signs of capillariasis?

Answer 25

Irritation, increased mucus, skin sloughing

Question 26

Tx for capillariasis?

Answer 26

Ivermectin

Question 27

Lucke’s Tumor is also known as:

Answer 27

Ranid Herpesvirus 1

Question 28

Lucke’s Tumor is most commonly found in:

Answer 28

Northern leopard frog

Question 29

Characteristics of Lucke’s Tumor:

Answer 29

Causes renal adenocarcinoma
Seasonal change, tumor more prevalent in spring with frogs come out of hibernation
Virus shed in urine
Eggs/young highly susceptible

Question 30

Clinical signs of iridoviruses?

Answer 30

Lethargy, anorexia, abnormal posture, abnormal swimming behavior
Erythema and hemorrhage of mouth and legs
Body swelling
Death

Question 31

Amphibian zoonoses:

Answer 31

Aeromonas spp.
Mycobacterium spp.
Chromomycotic spp.