bacterial disease of reptiles Flashcards
recommended to determine appropriate therapy.
Culture and sensitivity
Most bacterial infections?
gram-negative bacteria, many of which are considered commensal
common cause of death
septicemia
may be preceded by trauma, local abscessation, parasitism, or environmental stress.
causative agent for septicemia
AeromonasandPseudomonasspp transmitted by ectoparasites
clinical signs of septicemia
terminal signs are respiratory distress, lethargy, convulsions, and incoordination
petechiae may be found on the ventrum, and chelonians develop erythema of the plastron
shell disease of aquatic turtles caused by Citrobacter freundii?
Septicemic Cutaneous Ulcerative Disease (SCUD)
act synergistically by facilitating entry ofC freundii.
Serratiaspp
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.
Septicemic Cutaneous Ulcerative Disease (SCUD)
a common infectious agent of crustaceans that causes Erythema and pitting of the shell with ulceration is seen. Septicemia is uncommon
Beneckea chitinovora,
treatment for shell disease of turtles is caused byBeneckea chitinovora
Topical iodine + antibiotics
feeding crayfish is often implicated and discouraged.
due seen in snakes and lizards kept in unhygienic conditions with excessive humidity and moisture.
Ulcerative or Necrotic Dermatitis / scale rot
*Secondary infection withAeromonasspp, Pseudomonasspp, and a number of other bacteria may result in septicemia and death if untreated.
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.
Blister disease
Focal infections caused by traumatic injuries, bite wounds, or poor husbandry
Abscesses
Subcutaneous abscesses
Visceral abscessation
Subspectacle abscessation
seen as nodules or swellings
Subcutaneous abscesses
DD.
parasitic nodules, tumors, and hematomas
causative agent of subcutaneous abscess?
Aeromonas, Serratia, Slamonella, Micrococcus, Erysielothrix, Citrobacter frendii, Morganella morganii, Proteus, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Eschirichia coli, Klebsiella, Arizona, and Dermatophilus; often in combinations.
treatment for subcutaneous abscess?
- *Small, localized - be completely excised to avoid recurrence.
- Larger abscesses - marsupialized, followed by local wound treatment. lining - scraped
appropriate antimicrobial agent for Anaerobic bacteria
metronidazole, ceftazidime, or a potentiated penicillin product
may occur as a result of hematogenous infection.
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.
Subspectacle abscessation?
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.
tx. in Subspectacle abscessation?
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.
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
Infectious Stomatitis
*Aeromonasand Pseudomonasspp are most frequently isolated
can be influenced by respiratory or systemic parasitism, unfavorable environmental temperatures, unsanitary conditions, concurrent disease, malnutrition, and hypovitaminosis A?
. Pneumonia
Open-mouth breathing, nasal discharge, and dyspnea are frequent signs.
Septicemia may develop in severe or prolonged cases.
Pneumonia
tx for Pneumonia
Nebulization therapy with antibiotics diluted in saline, in combination with acetylcysteine
why Increased temperatures are important in reptiles with pneumonia/ resp infection?
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.
often have an underlying vitamin A deficiency and require dietary correction?
Turtles
they treated for pneumonia do not improve completely until after treatment for vitamin A deficiency.
known cause of rhinitis and upper respiratory tract disease in chelonians and polyserositis in crocodilians.
Mycoplasmosis
in _____the disease has been associated with population declines, and the disease is often chronic and/or intermittent.
chelonians
in _____mycoplasmosis results in severe systemic disease and frequently death.
In American alligators
treatment for mycoplasma
fluoroquinolones, clarithromycin, and oxytetracyline
DX:
PCR and serologic diagnostic
Ear infections occur frequently in turtles, especially box turtles and aquatic turtles
Otitis
causative agent of otitis
Proteus spp, Pseudomonas spp, Citrobacter spp, Morganella morganii, Enterobacter spp
Ear infections may be secondary to hypovitaminosis A
clinical signs of otitis
Marked swelling is seen at the tympanic membrane, and caseous material is present
tx for otitis
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
what is Infectious Cloacitis ?
- traumatic in origin.
- In pericloacal abscesses, the infection often migrates craniad
- Ascending urinary or genital tract infections are common sequelae
clinical signs of Infectious Cloacitis
edema and hemopurulent discharge
tx for Infectious Cloacitis
- 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.
Commonly reported in snakes these proliferative and progressive spinal lesions associated with chronic bacterial infections, most commonly involvingSalmonellaspp
Spinal Osteopathy/Osteomyelitis
*characterized by repeated episodes of osteoclastic bone resorption and deposition, leading to dense, brittle bones
DX and TX in Spinal Osteopathy/Osteomyelitis?
Diagnosis is by biopsy or blood culture
*Longterm antibiotic therapy may be helpful, but the prognosis is guarded to poor.
associated with chronic wasting in wild, imported reptiles and are seen as granulomatous lesions at necropsy. ?
Mycobacteriosis
spp.
Mycobacterium ulcerans,M chelonae,M haemophilum, andM marinum
*reduced temperatures and may require long periods for growth.
clinical signs of Mycobacteriosis
- Chelonians - exhibit pulmonary involvement
* lizards, snakes, and crocodilians- show visceral granulomas.
tx for Mycobacteriosis
- Rifampin and isoniazid are hepatotoxic
- the longterm administration required is unlikely to be safe.
- no reports of successful treatment.
These bacteria have been isolated from clinically healthy reptiles
Salmonella arizonaandEdwardsiellaInfection
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.
Salmonella arizonaandEdwardsiellaInfection
