bacterial disease of reptiles

Question 1

recommended to determine appropriate therapy.

Answer 1

Culture and sensitivity

Question 2

Most bacterial infections?

Answer 2

gram-negative bacteria, many of which are considered commensal

Question 3

common cause of death

Answer 3

septicemia

may be preceded by trauma, local abscessation, parasitism, or environmental stress.

Question 4

causative agent for septicemia

Answer 4

AeromonasandPseudomonasspp transmitted by ectoparasites

Question 5

clinical signs of septicemia

Answer 5

terminal signs are respiratory distress, lethargy, convulsions, and incoordination
petechiae may be found on the ventrum, and chelonians develop erythema of the plastron

Question 6

shell disease of aquatic turtles caused by Citrobacter freundii?

Answer 6

Septicemic Cutaneous Ulcerative Disease (SCUD)

Question 7

act synergistically by facilitating entry ofC freundii.

Answer 7

Serratiaspp

Question 8

due which scutes are pitted and may slough with an underlying purulent discharge
anorexia, lethargy, and petechial hemorrhages on the shell and skin are seen

liver necrosis is also common.

Answer 8

Septicemic Cutaneous Ulcerative Disease (SCUD)

Question 9

a common infectious agent of crustaceans that causes Erythema and pitting of the shell with ulceration is seen. Septicemia is uncommon

Answer 9

Beneckea chitinovora,

Question 10

treatment for shell disease of turtles is caused byBeneckea chitinovora

Answer 10

Topical iodine + antibiotics

feeding crayfish is often implicated and discouraged.

Question 11

due seen in snakes and lizards kept in unhygienic conditions with excessive humidity and moisture.

Answer 11

Ulcerative or Necrotic Dermatitis / scale rot

*Secondary infection withAeromonasspp, Pseudomonasspp, and a number of other bacteria may result in septicemia and death if untreated.

Question 12

has traditionally been considered a separate entity but is simply an early stage of ulcerative (necrotic) dermatitis. A low-grade thermal injury may mimic blister disease because of the potential development of fluid-filled vesicles.

Answer 12

Blister disease

Question 13

Focal infections caused by traumatic injuries, bite wounds, or poor husbandry

Answer 13

Abscesses

Subcutaneous abscesses
Visceral abscessation
Subspectacle abscessation

Question 14

seen as nodules or swellings

Answer 14

Subcutaneous abscesses

DD.
parasitic nodules, tumors, and hematomas

Question 15

causative agent of subcutaneous abscess?

Answer 15

Aeromonas, Serratia, Slamonella, Micrococcus, Erysielothrix, Citrobacter frendii, Morganella morganii, Proteus, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Eschirichia coli, Klebsiella, Arizona, and Dermatophilus; often in combinations.

Question 16

treatment for subcutaneous abscess?

Answer 16

• *Small, localized - be completely excised to avoid recurrence.
• Larger abscesses - marsupialized, followed by local wound treatment. lining - scraped

Question 17

appropriate antimicrobial agent for Anaerobic bacteria

Answer 17

metronidazole, ceftazidime, or a potentiated penicillin product

Question 18

may occur as a result of hematogenous infection.

Answer 18

Visceral abscessation

• Abscesses of the female reproductive system are common and may result in coelomitis.
  tx. Surgical intervention is indicated; systemic antibiotics alone are rarely, if ever, successful.

Question 19

Subspectacle abscessation?

Answer 19

seen in snakes, and conjunctivitis is seen in the other orders

*from mild inflammation to panophthalmitis and may occur as a result of ascending infectious stomatitis.

Question 20

tx. in Subspectacle abscessation?

Answer 20

without spectacles -Topical antibiotic ointments
with spectacles- drainage, by surgically removing a small wedge from the spectacle and flushing the subspectacular space and lacrimal duct with an antibiotic solution (eg, gentamicin)
*turtles, may need supplemental vitamin A.

Question 21

characterized early by petechiae in the oral cavity; caseous material develops along the dental arcade as the condition worsens.
infection extends into the mandible and maxilla

Answer 21

Infectious Stomatitis

*Aeromonasand Pseudomonasspp are most frequently isolated

Question 22

can be influenced by respiratory or systemic parasitism, unfavorable environmental temperatures, unsanitary conditions, concurrent disease, malnutrition, and hypovitaminosis A?

Answer 22

. Pneumonia

Question 23

Open-mouth breathing, nasal discharge, and dyspnea are frequent signs.
Septicemia may develop in severe or prolonged cases.

Answer 23

Pneumonia

Question 24

tx for Pneumonia

Answer 24

Nebulization therapy with antibiotics diluted in saline, in combination with acetylcysteine

Question 25

why Increased temperatures are important in reptiles with pneumonia/ resp infection?

Answer 25

should be maintained at the mid to upper end of their preferred optimal temperatures to stimulate the immune system but also to help mobilize respiratory secretions.

Question 26

often have an underlying vitamin A deficiency and require dietary correction?

Answer 26

Turtles

they treated for pneumonia do not improve completely until after treatment for vitamin A deficiency.

Question 27

known cause of rhinitis and upper respiratory tract disease in chelonians and polyserositis in crocodilians.

Answer 27

Mycoplasmosis

Question 28

in _____the disease has been associated with population declines, and the disease is often chronic and/or intermittent.

Answer 28

chelonians

Question 29

in _____mycoplasmosis results in severe systemic disease and frequently death.

Answer 29

In American alligators

Question 30

treatment for mycoplasma

Answer 30

fluoroquinolones, clarithromycin, and oxytetracyline

DX:
PCR and serologic diagnostic

Question 31

Ear infections occur frequently in turtles, especially box turtles and aquatic turtles

Answer 31

Otitis

Question 32

causative agent of otitis

Answer 32

Proteus spp, Pseudomonas spp, Citrobacter spp, Morganella morganii, Enterobacter spp

Ear infections may be secondary to hypovitaminosis A

Question 33

clinical signs of otitis

Answer 33

Marked swelling is seen at the tympanic membrane, and caseous material is present

Question 34

tx for otitis

Answer 34

tympanic membrane incised, and aggressive curettage
open area should be flushed with diluted povidone-iodine for a few days to prevent premature closure and to keep the area clean.
*antibiotics are rarely required
*supplementation of vitamin A

Question 35

what is Infectious Cloacitis ?

Answer 35

• traumatic in origin.
• In pericloacal abscesses, the infection often migrates craniad
• Ascending urinary or genital tract infections are common sequelae

Question 36

clinical signs of Infectious Cloacitis

Answer 36

edema and hemopurulent discharge

Question 37

tx for Infectious Cloacitis

Answer 37

• Cloacal calculi may form in vitamin or mineral imbalances and should be manually removed and followed by dietary correction
• surgical debridement, local wound treatment, and appropriate systemic antibiotics
• Fecal exam to identify potential parasitic causes.

Question 38

Commonly reported in snakes these proliferative and progressive spinal lesions associated with chronic bacterial infections, most commonly involvingSalmonellaspp

Answer 38

Spinal Osteopathy/Osteomyelitis

*characterized by repeated episodes of osteoclastic bone resorption and deposition, leading to dense, brittle bones

Question 39

DX and TX in Spinal Osteopathy/Osteomyelitis?

Answer 39

Diagnosis is by biopsy or blood culture

*Longterm antibiotic therapy may be helpful, but the prognosis is guarded to poor.

Question 40

associated with chronic wasting in wild, imported reptiles and are seen as granulomatous lesions at necropsy. ?

Answer 40

Mycobacteriosis

spp.
Mycobacterium ulcerans,M chelonae,M haemophilum, andM marinum
*reduced temperatures and may require long periods for growth.

Question 41

clinical signs of Mycobacteriosis

Answer 41

• Chelonians - exhibit pulmonary involvement

* lizards, snakes, and crocodilians- show visceral granulomas.

Question 42

tx for Mycobacteriosis

Answer 42

• Rifampin and isoniazid are hepatotoxic
• the longterm administration required is unlikely to be safe.
• no reports of successful treatment.

Question 43

These bacteria have been isolated from clinically healthy reptiles

Answer 43

Salmonella arizonaandEdwardsiellaInfection

Question 44

zoonotic nature of these commensal organisms must be considered when handling or treating reptiles.
Attempts to eliminate these microorganisms from reptiles and their eggs have been unsuccessful and are not recommended.

Answer 44

Salmonella arizonaandEdwardsiellaInfection