Download Reptilian Medicine

Reptilian Medicine
univ. prof. Zdenek Knotek, DVM, PhD.
Avian and Exotic Animal Clinic
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Brno
Czech Republic
knotekz@vfu.cz
Reptiles as patients
Stressor
Sympatic nervous system
Hypothalamus
Hypophysis
Corticotropin - releasing hormon (CRH)
Adrenocorticotropic hormon (ACTH)
negative feedback
Adrenal gland
Corticosterone
Catecholamins (adrenalin, noradrenalin)
Glucose colour changeHearth beat  Respiration 
HEALTH PROBLEMS THAT HAVE EMERGED DURING
KEEPING CHELONIANS IN CAPTIVITY
Testudo spp., Agrionemys spp., Trachemys scripta elegans
insufficient nutrition
poor husbandry
chronic metabolic problems
PHA syndrome
hibernation
POFS
pre-ovulatory follicle stasis
Symptoms
Laboratory
POES
post-ovulatory egg stasis
limited movement, general weakness, lethargy, anorexia
colon constipation, runny nose syndrome,
hind legs paresis
Ca, P, uric acid, ALT, AST
Beak overgrowth – tortoises
Abnormal development of mouthparts
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usually maxilla - overgrowtn rostrally
mandible deformation also documented
extensive overgrowth
may change architecture of the oral
cavity
Infectious stomatitis - rhinitis
common in tortoises
PHA syndrome
WBC counts lowest after hibernation
Stomatitis is often associated with rhinitis
and URTD
Infectious stomatitis
predisposing factors
stomatitis-glossitis-tracheitis in aquatic
terrapins
hypovitaminosis A
suboptimal water temperature
Infectious stomatitis
predisposing factors
in imported land tortoises
Herpesvirus, herpesvirus-like agents
Infectious stomatitis - rhinitis
Symptoms
nasal discharge and dyspnoae
whitish plaques on the dorsum of the
tongue
white diphteritic plaques involve the
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palate, glottis and pharynx
when removed - necrotic material may
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reveal ulcerated and bleeding lesions
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Infectious stomatitis
Symptoms (herpesvirus necrotic
stomatitis)
lower gums very swollen and inflamed
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in some cases - infection spreads
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rapidly
causing massive oedematous
swelling of the
neck
high mortality in imported tortoises
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Treatment
Fluid therapy is essential
subcutaneously or intraperitoneally
very long period of treatment
ATB treatment - not necessary in many
cases advisable to give systemic antibiotic in
ulcerative stomatitis
HEALTH PROBLEMS THAT HAVE EMERGED DURING
KEEPING CROCODILES IN CAPTIVITY
Caiman spp., Crocodylus spp., Tomistoma schlegelii,
insufficient nutrition
overfeeding
chronic metabolic problems
renal disease
Symptoms
traumatic lesions
poor husbandry
limited movement, general weakness, lethargy, anorexia
hind legs paresis
Laboratory Ca, P, uric acid, BUN, ALT, AST
Stomatitis – crocodiles
Predisposing factors
unsanitary conditions, malnutrition,
overcrowding, poor water quality
loose teeth that easily fall out may
nutritional problem in young crocodilians,
petechiae, ulceration, discoloration, exudate
Stomatitis – crocodiles
Predisposing factors
pox-like virus reported
the grey-white circular lesions
Crocodiles
Rubber jaw – osteodystrophia fibrosa
Cleft lip – cheiloschisis
Cleft palate - uranoschisis
Cleft chin – cheilognathoschisis
HEALTH PROBLEMS THAT HAVE EMERGED DURING
KEEPING LIZARDS IN CAPTIVITY
Iguana iguana
insufficient nutrition
poor husbandry
chronic metabolic problems
secondary hyperparathyroidism
renal disease
POFS
pre-ovulatory follicle stasis
Symptoms
Laboratory
POES
post-ovulatory egg stasis
limited movement, general weakness, lethargy, anorexia
large swelling of the hind legs, colon constipation
tremor and hind legs paresis
Ca, P, uric acid, ALT, AST
Traumatic lesions – lizards
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gingivitis
traumatic defect
aggressive behaviour
chemical/thermal burns
fractures of teeth and jaws in
agamid
lizards
nutritional or renal secondary
hyperparathryroidism
Traumatic lesions – lizards
gingivitis
deformed mandibles and maxillae
exposure of gingival tissue
subcutaneous abscesses over the
lateral maxilla or mandible - green
iguanas
Oral cavity colour – lizards
jaundiced mucous membrane
prehepatic or hepatic icterus
cyanosis
cardiac disease and respiratory compromise
pharyngeal oedema
chronic renal disease in green iguanas
oral fibrosarcoma and squamous-cell
carcinoma
Treatment
tube feeding
to avoid the painful feeding per os
Subcutaneous abscesses - lizards
it is important to control the tract between
the lip and gum
this tract must be explored and flushed with
disinfection solution
Anorexia
pain - distension
urinary blader
caecum, colon
paralysis + anorexia
HEALTH PROBLEMS THAT HAVE EMERGED DURING
KEEPING SNAKES IN CAPTIVITY
Python spp., Boa spp., Epicrates spp., Sanzinia spp., Morelia spp.
infections
overfeeding
chronic metabolic problems
renal disease
Symptoms
traumatic lesions
anorexia
dysecdysis
Laboratory Ca, P, uric acid, ALT, AST
poor husbandry
Stomatitis
Common – snakes, chelonians
Often secondary
stress, trauma, weakness, malnourishment
Animals anorectic
If untreated - glossitis, tracheitis,
pneumonia, oesophagitis, systemic diseases
Stomatitis
Predisposing factors
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poor hygiene
suboptimal husbandry
malnutrition
overcrowding
parasites
trauma
suboptimal temperature
extremely high humidity
Stomatitis
In snakes and chelonians
different viral diseases can cause
immunosuppression with secondary bacterial
infection in the oral cavity
Ulcerative stomatitis
(mouth rot, canker-mouth) in snakes
excess salivation, ulceration, caseous exudate
traumatic lesions
snakes persistently strike at the terrarium
wall, force-feeding
vitamin C deficit ?
important causative Gram-negative bacteria
Pseudomonas, Aeromonas, Klebsiella, Proteus
Ulcerative stomatitis
stomatitis cases
more than 80 % isolates Gram-negative
healthy snakes
more than 60 % isolates Gram-positive
Your experience???
Infectious stomatitis
normal oral bacterial flora in captive snakes ?
Stenotrophomonas (Pseudomonas) maltophilia
115 healthy captive snakes (12 genera, 22 species)
29.6 % positive - S. maltophilia in 1/3 snakes
ATBs
cotrimoxazole, floroquinolones, aminoglycosides
Hejnar et al., Vet. microbiology, 2007, 121, 357 - 362
Treatment
debridement - necrotic tissue, broken teeth
flushing wounds with saline and/or with
diluted povidon iodine (daily)
local treatment with systemic treatment
vitamin A to support the healing process
oral cavity diseases very painful
analgetic drugs and parenteral
feeding
form
of