Common Diseases of Reptiles Flashcards
Why are reptiles not recommended for immunocompromised individuals?
carriers of Leptospirosis and Salmonella, where eradication is impossible
- can prevent shedding by minimizing stress and improving husbandry
- do not clean cage by food prep area
Why are quarantines especially important in reptiles? How long is it recommended?
they are often wild caught and can harbor disease
60-90 days
What is the host of Adenovirus/Atadenovirus? How is it transmitted?
neonate/young bearded dragons (+/- other lizards and snakes)
fecal-oral, possibly vertical
What co-infection is commonly associated with Adenovirus/Atadenovirus? What effect does it have?
Depedovirus and Coccidia
ruptures host cells and targets hepatocytes, causing hepatitis (can also infect intestines, kidneys, and nerves)
What are the 4 groups of individuals affected by Adenovirus/Atadenovirus?
- acute death
- poor doer
- intermittent
- subclinical
What clinical signs are associated with Adenovirus/Atadenovirus?
- anorexia, lethargy, weight loss
- limb paresis
- head tilt, opisthotonos
- seizure/tremors
- diarrhea
- sudden death
What 2 methods of diagnostics are used for Adenovirus/Atadenovirus?
- PCR - oral, cloacal swab
- histology - liver, intestines
What are the 3 major histologic findings associated with Adenovirus/Atadenovirus?
- basophilic IN inclusions in liver/GI
- hemorrhagic hepatitis and enteritis
- intestinal and hepatic necrosis
What treatment is recommended for Adenovirus/Atadenovirus infection?
- isolation and supportive care
- treat secondary infections
- treat environment
guarded to poor prognosis
What is the host of Paramyxovirus/Ferlavirus? How is it transmitted?
snakes —> secondary bacterial infections common
direct contact with aerosols and fomites
What clinical signs are associated with Paramyxovirus/Ferlavirus? How long can carrier status last?
- anorexia
- regurgitation
- dyspnea
- star gazing
- head tremors
- flaccid paralysis
- ACUTE = paresis and death within 24-48 hours
10 months
What 2 diagnostics are performed for Paramyxovirus/Ferlavirus? What gross pathology can be appreciated?
- PCR - oral/cloacal swab or pulmonary wash
- hemagglutination inhibition antibody titer
inflammation/necrosis of lungs, CNS, and liver
WHat treatment is recommended for Paramyxovirus/Ferlavirus?
- isolation and supportive care
- treat secondary infections
- improve husbandry
poor prognosis
What is the host of Arenavirus? What does it cause?
boas and pythons
inclusion body disease
What are 4 methods of transmission of Arenavirus?
- direct contact
- fomites
- snake mite (Ophionyssus natricis)
- vertical
What clinical signs are seen in boids and pythons with Arenavirus infection?
BOIDS = regurgitation and progressive weight loss, secondary infections (stomatitis, pneumonia, neurologic disease)
PYTHONS = acute severe neurologic disease
What are 3 ways of diagnosing Arenavirus infection?
- biopsy - liver or esophageal tonsils
- CBC - leukocytosis with lymphocytosis occasionally with IB in the cytoplasm
- PCR - oral/esophageal swab
How is Arenavirus infection treated?
- isolation and supportive care
- treat secondary infections
- improve husbandry
poor prognosis —> euthanasia
What novel virus is associated with fatal respiratory disease in pythons? How is it transmitted? Diagnosed?
Nidovirus
contact with fecal matter and bedding
PCR of respiratory secretions or cloacal swabs
What is the main reptile host of Herpesvirus? How is it transmitted?
chelonians
direct horizontal - respiratory secretions, feces, saliva
What are the 2 major clinical signs associated with Herpesvirus infection? What else is seen?
stomatitis and rhinitis
- conjunctivitis, blepharoedema, serous/mucopurulent nasal discharge
- hypersalvation, glossitis (diphtheric membrane)
- dyspnea
- dehydration
- neurologic signs
- weight loss
What are 2 options for diagnosing Herpesvirus infection?
- PCR - swab or biopsy or oral lesion
- histopath - IN inclusion bodies
What treatment is available for Herpesvirus infection? What happens with survivors?
no effective treatment —> try Acyclovir, supportive care, treatment of secondary infections, and improve husbandry
will be carriers for life - allows for continuous spread to other household chelonians, must minimize stress (no brumation!)
What Poxvirus commonly affects crocodilians? What signs are associated? Treatment?
Caiman pox —> white circular lesions
isolation + supportive therapy
What is West Nile virus associated with? What are the 3 most common clinical signs?
acute death in American Alligators
- depression
- lethargy
- neurological signs
What is the host of infectious stomatitis? What is the most common cause?
(mouth rot/ulcerative stomatitis) - all reptiles, most common in snakes
poor husbandry, trauma, or systemic illness allows Aeromonas or Pseudomonas infection likely
What are the most common clinical signs associated with infectious stomatitis?
- anorexia
- hypersalivation
- oral petechiae
- caseous exudate
- tooth loss
- osteomyelitis
- eye infections
- pneumonia
How is infectious stomatitis diagnosed? What are the 3 most common treatments necessary?
bacterial culture
- MILD CASES - improve husbandry, topical iodine
- SEVERE CASES - improve husbandry, topical iodine, systemic antibiotics
- periodic trimming for resulting beak and jaw deformation
(iodine safer near eyes)
What is the most common host of vascular dermatitis? What is a major predisposing factor?
(blister disease/scale rot) - captive snakes and occasionally lizards
increased humidity = poor ventilation, wet substrate
How does vascular dermatitis progress? How is it treated?
SQ fluid-filled, sterile lesions —> secondary bacterial infection —> bacteremia
improve husbandry + topical iodine +/- systemic antibiotics
What is the most common host of Mycoplasma? What is the most common clinical sign?
chelonians +/- squamates, crocodilians
chronic nasal sinusitis
- ACUTE = hyporexia, lethargy, clear nasal d/c
- CHRONIC = weight loss, mucoid-mucopurulent nasal/ocular d/c, conjunctivitis, palpebral edema
How is Mycoplasma transmitted? When are flareups common?
direct - nasal exudates (very contagious)
cold weather
How is Mycoplasma infection diagnosed? What are 3 treatment options?
difficult - culture, ELISA, PCR
- tetracyclines +/- fluoroquinolones
- supportive treatment
- isolate survivors due to asymptomatic carriers
(Enrofloxacin nasal wash + Dexamethasone + NaCl fluids —> recurrence common)
What are the main 2 causes of abscesses in reptiles? How does it compare to mammals?
G- or anaerobic bactertia
caseous exudate does no drain well - heterophils lack lytic enzymes responsible for the production of abscesses in mammals
How are abscesses treated?
- lance and leave open
- flush with iodine q 1-2 weeks
- topical/systemic antibiotics
What antibiotics are more commonly used in reptiles?
injectable Enrofloxacin or Cefrazidime
What causes onygenalean dermatomycosis? What are the most common hosts?
Nannizziopsis spp. (yellow fungus disease, CANV)
lizards and snakes —> bearded dragons, chameleons, green iguanas
What is the most common clinical sign associated with onygenalean dermatomycosis? What else can be seen?
yellow-brown skin lesions with hyperkeratosis and ulceraition
- skin necrosis
- slough exposes muscle and bone
- anorexia
What is the preferred diagnostic for onygenalean dermatomycosis? What else can be done?
histopath - hyphae
- broad range, next generation PCR (bacteria + fungi, sensitivity)
- cytology
- culture
What are 5 aspects to the treatment plan in cases of onygenalean dermatomycosis?
- isolate
- prolonged antifungal therapy for 30-50 days
- aggressively debride and topical treatment
- supportive treatment
- clean the environment