Reptile medicine - specific conditions Flashcards
What are common conditions seen in practice with chelonias?
- MBD
- Follicular stasis
- Respiratory infection
- Trauma
- Overgrown beak
Specific conditions =
* Mycoplasma / herpesvirus respiratory complex in tortoises
* Ulcerative shell dermatitis
What is chelonian herpesvirus? What does it cause? Tx?
- Testudinid HPV 1-4
- Causes latent infections
- Necrotizing stomatitis
- Diphtheroid plates
- 2ary rhinitis + conjunctivitis
- Tx = NO effective tx - all become subclinical carriers
What does mycoplasma complex cause?
- Rhinitis
- Conjunctivitis
- Subclinical + latent infections common
- Tx = systemic Ab (doxycycline), eye drops (oxytet), nebulization (aminoglycosides), supportive care
What are risk factors for resp infections? Dx?
- Young + debilitated individuals
- Immunosuppressed patients
- Dx = Specific PCR, radiography (assess lungs + 2ary infections)
What are other causes of resp signs in chelonias?
- Bacterial infections
- Viral = ranavirus, picornavirus, ferlavirus (paramyxovirus)
- Coelomic masses / effusions
What conditions are more common in terrapins / turtples?
- Ulcerative shell dermatitis
- Bacterial pneumonia
- Aural abscesses
What are specific conditions seen in lizards?
- Intra-oral disease
- Fungal dermatitis
- Rostral abrasions = repeated trauma - progressive ulceration + teeth loss, osteomyelitis
How would you approach rostral abrasions?
- AB - ceftazidime
- Chlorohexidine
- Analgesia - meloxicam
What is seen on clinical exam of periodontal disease (chameleons + agamid lizards)? Tx?
◦ Gingivitis
◦ Tartar and periodontal pockets
◦ Gingival recession and/or hyperplasia
◦ Loss of teeth
◦ Bone exposure +/- osteomyelitis/abscesses
◦ Pathological fractures
◦ Septicaemia
- Tx = correct diet, Ga + scale/polish every 6-12months, topical chlorohexidine, Ab - ceftazidime
What are clinical signs of fungal dermatitis? Dx? Tx?
◦ Yellow discoloration/crusts
◦ Any area of skin but frequent around lips
◦ Weight loss and non-specific signs
- Can get secondarily infected with bacteria
- Contagious
- Dx = skin scrapes, cytology, biopsies + histology, PCR
- Tx = terbinafine, itraconazole, surgical debridement
What are common problems in snakes?
- Stomatitis (inflammation of the mouth)
- Anorexia
- Respiratory signs
- Retained shed
What can cause stomatitis? Dx? Tx?
- Causes = immunosuppression, trauma (striking prey), microbial agent
- Dx = exam, bloods + cytology + C&S
- Tx = depends on cause = husbandry corrections, Ab, Chlorohexidine
What are viral causes of primary stomatitis in snakes? Dx? Tx?
- Reptarenavirus/Inclusion Body Disease
- Paramyxovirus
- Nidovirus
- Ranavirus
- Picornavirus
- Dx = PCR
- Frequently associated with respiratory, neuro and other signs
- Tx = No treatment
What are bacterial causes of primary stomatitis in snakes? Dx? Tx?
- Gram -ve = Pseudomonas, Aeromonas, Proteus, E.
coli - Anaerobic = Bacteroides, Fusobacterium
- Mycobacterium sp.
- Dx = C&S
- Tx = ABs = Ceftazidime or marbofloxacin
What are possible tissues of prolapse in reptiles?
◦ Cloaca
◦ Intestine
◦ Bladder (some species)
◦ Oviduct
◦ Phallus/hemipenes
