A 40-yr-old female red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) was presented for acute lethargy and anorexia of 48 h duration. A dorsoventral radiograph revealed a single hypercalcified egg within the left oviduct. Hematology and plasma biochemical values were considered normal for a gravid turtle. Administration of oxytocin failed to induce oviposition. Prefemoral salpingotomy with the aid of carbon dioxide laser facilitated removal of a necrotic egg after fragmentation of the egg in situ. Endoscopic examination of the lumen of the oviduct (salpingoscopy) through the salpingotomy incision provided direct visualization of oviductal mucosa, ruled out obstructive lesions, and confirmed complete removal of the egg and its contents. The turtle's appetite returned to normal 24 h after surgery.

Medical records of 63 Fiji banded iguanas (Brachylophus bulabula) examined by veterinarians at the San Diego Zoo from January 2000 to May 2010 were reviewed to identify age, sex, presenting complaint, final diagnosis, and outcome. A total of 154 presentations were recorded, which included 63 individual animals. Females outnumbered the males, both in number of presentations and in mean presentations per individual. Trauma was the most frequent diagnosis (39%) and, of those cases, conspecific inflicted trauma was more common than trauma from environmental elements. In addition, the majority of conspecific trauma presentations were female (86%). Additional causes of morbidity included reproductive, idiopathic, infectious, congenital, inflammatory, and neoplastic conditions. All reproductive presentations were female. In hatchlings, congenital issues made up the majority of presentations. The majority of cases improved (84%), 8% were euthanized, 4% died, and 3% remained static but stable. The overall mortality rate during the 125 month study period was 20%.

Tissue concentrations of the fluoroquinolone antimicrobial enrofloxacin and its active metabolite ciprofloxacin were determined over a 24 h period after a single topical application in the coqui frog (Eleutherodactylus coqui). Twelve frogs, scheduled for euthanasia unrelated to the study (due to exposure to a potentially lethal ranavirus), were randomly divided into four groups of three animals. Three groups received one dose of enrofloxacin topically (10 mg/kg), and the remaining group served as an untreated control. One group was euthanized and tissues (liver, kidneys) were collected at each of the following time points: 0 (control), 6, 12, and 24 h posttreatment. Tissues were pooled within each group, and concentrations of enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin were measured using high-pressure liquid chromatography. Enrofloxacin tissue concentrations ranged from 0.2 to 0.44 μg/g, whereas ciprofloxacin concentrations ranged from 0.42 to 0.81 μg/g. Wildlife Conservation Society amphibian microbiology records from 2000 to 2010 were reviewed, and bacterial isolates and minimum inhibitory concentrations were determined. This study demonstrates that enrofloxacin is absorbed systemically after topical administration to coqui frogs, converts to ciprofloxacin, and results in measurable tissue concentrations for at least 24 h.

This study investigates the potential of the pet trade, particularly the conditions under which wild animals are captured and transported, to influence the community composition of the gastrointestinal flora and the prevalence of pathogens shed by Tokay geckos (Gekko gecko). The commensal enteric composition of individually housed Tokay geckos was characterized; and in an effort to understand the effects of importation on commensal enteric composition, experimental manipulations of density were conducted to mimic stressful overcrowding conditions in the pet trade. A total of 189 lactose-positive Enterobacteriaceae isolates were cultured from fecal samples obtained from 110 imported geckos. The top three most frequently cultured genera were Citrobacter (n = 114), Klebsiella (n = 29), and Enterobacter (n = 15). Citrobacter was the most frequently cultured genus from all geckos. The prevalence of Citrobacter spp. increased significantly from 55% among all individuals to 75% from grouped geckos (P = 0.011). The prevalence of Salmonella enterica subspecies arizonae, a common reptile-associated zoonotic pathogen, was ≤1% in individually housed geckos compared to 12% cultured from animals living in groups (P = 0.0004). The second most common genus cultured, Klebsiella, decreased significantly from 20% among individually housed geckos to 4% from all the combined animals (P = 0.007). The increase in prevalence of S. enterica subspecies arizonae and opportunistic pathogens like Citrobacter spp. illustrates that regulations aimed at decreasing overcrowding on imported reptiles might help to minimize pathogen shedding and transmission.

Gonadectomy of pet lizards may be necessary to treat various medical conditions, and prophylactic surgery may prevent life-threatening reproductive-associated conditions. This study provides information relevant to the pre-surgical evaluation of bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps). Blood samples collected from seven male and seven female inland bearded dragons prior to elective gonadectomy surgery, and again 12 days following surgery, were analyzed using a point-of-care blood gas analyzer (iStat) and a semiportable chemistry analyzer (Abaxis VetScan) to obtain plasma biochemistry and electrolyte concentrations. Statistically significant differences were seen for packed cell volume and protein, calcium, and potassium concentrations when pre-surgical values were compared with post-surgical values. Four female lizards in the cohort died in the immediate post-operative period, and three of these animals had large, well-developed ovarian follicles. The ovaries of all surviving female lizards were characterized by small follicles consistent with inactivity. Minimal differences were seen in the biochemistry ranges for lizards that survived versus those that did not. None of the biochemical differences were of sufficient magnitude to be clinically important, but reproductive status of female bearded dragons should be considered prior to this invasive surgical procedure.

Nineteen adult, free-ranging Macquarie River turtles (Emydura macquarii) were used to examine the effects of IV and IM dosing of alfaxalone. Turtles were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups, and alfaxalone at a dose of 9 mg/kg was injected into either the right jugular vein (n = 10) or left thigh musculature (n = 9) of individual animals. Heart rate, respiratory rate, cloacal temperature, time to regaining spontaneous movement, and response to noxious stimuli were recorded. Intravenous alfaxalone at a dose of 9 mg/kg was an effective sedative in all turtles within this treatment group and allowed for rapid intubation with no obvious complications. Mean sedation time for turtles given alfaxalone IV was 14.3 min (SD: 5.4, min–max: 8–25). All turtles administered IV alfaxalone underwent a prolonged period of reduced respiratory rate, but all recovered uneventfully. Turtles within the IV group also maintained withdrawal reflexes, palpebral reflexes, and jaw tone for the duration of the experiment and, as such, alfaxalone must be used in conjunction with other methods of analgesia under circumstances where pain is expected to occur. Conversely, IM alfaxalone at a dose of 9 mg/kg did not result in any sedative effects and was therefore considered ineffective.