A 16-yr-old intact male, captive-born Black Water Monitor, Varanus salvator macromaculatus, was presented for evaluation of bilateral lens opacities. Examination showed bilateral cataracts, with blepharospasm, uveitis, and absence of vision in the left eye. Phacoemulsification was successfully performed on the left eye, and at six weeks postoperative, the animal was found to be visual in that eye and had complete healing of the surgical site. The right eye had phacoemulsification performed seven months later with similar results. The monitor made a full recovery and continues to have normal ocular examinations.

An 8-yr-old male bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps) was presented for evaluation of a mass involving the right eyelid. The mass was surgically removed in conjunction with enucleation of the right eye. Tissues were submitted for histopathology, which revealed that the eyelid mass was a squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). A review of the records from two separate zoological pathology laboratories identified a total of 12 reports of SCC in bearded dragons; this represented 6% of the neoplasms documented in bearded dragons from the two laboratories over a 10 yr period. Nine (75%) of the 12 SCCs were located in the eyelids or periocular tissues; one (8.3%) was located on the rostral mandible; one (8.3%) was located adjacent to the vent; and one (8.3%) was on the proximal right rear leg. These findings suggest a predilection of SCCs in bearded dragons in proximity to a mucocutaneous junction (11/12, 91.6%), particularly in the periocular tissues (9/12, 75%).

During the summer of 2010, physical examinations were performed and blood and feces were collected from Eastern box turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina) in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. A total of 175 turtles were collected through incidental encounters and canine searches. Blood samples were analyzed using complete blood counts (n = 169) and plasma biochemistries (n = 162). Reference ranges were established for packed cell volume, white blood cell count and differential, total solids, aspartate aminotransferase, bile acids, creatine kinase, uric acid, phosphorus, total calcium, total protein, potassium, and sodium. Fecal examinations and ectoparasite screens were done on 5 and 85 turtles, respectively; no parasites were found during either of these screening processes. Clinical signs recorded during the physical examinations included: no clinical signs (n = 68), oral discharge (n = 4), conjunctivitis (n = 3), fracture (n = 3), and ocular discharge (n = 3). These results serve as baseline parameters for ongoing health assessments of this population and future investigations into similar turtle populations.

Clindamycin is a lincosamide antibiotic that is used to treat infections caused by Gram-positive aerobic and anaerobic bacteria in multiple species. In monogastric mammalian species, clindamycin is well absorbed via all routes and has pharmacokinetic properties that support once- or twice-daily administration. It has been used to treat sea turtles with contaminated fractures and deep lacerations. However, lacking pharmacokinetic information in sea turtles, dosage regimens have been empirically derived or extrapolated from mammals. To assess current empiric dose recommendations (5 mg/kg q 24 h; 2.5–5 mg/kg kg q 12–24 h) in achieving appropriate plasma concentrations of sufficient duration, a pharmacokinetic study was performed in loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta). Pilot study results indicated that at a dose of 5 mg/kg, plasma concentrations of clindamycin were below a minimum inhibitory concentration of 0.5 μg/ml soon after injection. Therefore, the clindamycin dose was increased to 10 mg/kg for a study in which three groups of eight juvenile loggerhead sea turtles with a median weight of 5.03 kg housed at 30°C received a single intravenous, intramuscular, or oral dose of clindamycin. Blood was collected at various intervals to generate plasma concentration vs. time profiles. Noncompartmental analysis was used to determine pharmacokinetic parameters. After IV administration, clearance was high and variable, and the plasma concentrations persisted above 0.5 μg/ml for only 4 hr. The half-life also varied considerably among turtles, with values ranging from 1 to >50 h because of persistent low concentrations in five of the turtles. The median volume of distribution at steady state was 4.5 L/kg. Intramuscular administration yielded inconsistent absorption (median F = 45%), a 1.0-h median half-life, and plasma concentrations above 0.5 μg/ml for <4 h. Oral clindamycin produced low concentrations that were insufficient to calculate pharmacokinetic values, although administration technique (oral solution in squid mantles sutured shut and placed into the upper esophagus) may have contributed to the disappointing results for the oral route. These results indicate that because of rapid clearance, clindamycin administration at 10 mg/kg q 24 h does not achieve plasma concentrations needed for effective therapy in loggerhead sea turtles. Higher doses and more frequent administration should be considered to treat anaerobic and Gram-positive aerobic bacterial infections effectively in sea turtles.