In recent years, many nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) species have been recognized as pathogens for humans and animals. Molecular diagnostic techniques enable rapid identification and characterization of the different species of mycobacteria. NTM are inhabitants of the soil and water, and enter the body through a defect in the skin or mucosa, causing infections in immunocompromised subjects. Mycobacteriosis has been described in reptiles, especially in chelonians, but the incidence seems to be low in captivity. To date, mycobacteriosis has been described only in three tortoise species. This report involves a captive Hermann's tortoise (Testudo hermanni) diagnosed with cloacal mycobacteriosis and subsequent systemic dissemination by histopathology and PCR. A Mycobacterium sp. belonging to the M. terrae complex was identified as the etiologic agent, and this is the first report of infection in reptiles by this organism.

A 27-yr-old female green anaconda (Eunectes murinus) presented with coelomic distention in the posterior half of its body. On examination with imaging diagnostics, a fluid-filled cavity that seemed to be related to reproductive tissue was discovered. Diagnostics of this fluid confirmed cystic fluid, and a fine-needle aspirate of the mass determined that it was ovarian tissue. Ovariectomy and mass removal surgery was performed. During surgery, there was discovery of an additional unrecognized organ near the reproductive tract. Histopathology revealed an ovarian cystic neoplasm consistent with a granulosa cell tumor, and biopsy of the unknown structure was identified as a testis. Postoperatively, the green anaconda was administered fentanyl transdermal patches for analgesia and developed a severe adverse reaction, which improved after administration of the opioid reversal agent naltrexone. This is the first report of hermaphroditism in a snake as well as suspected negative side effects of transdermal fentanyl in a snake.

Chronic ovoretention, or egg binding, is a common cause of morbidity in captive female snakes. Both oviparous and viviparous species can be affected, but most literature is focused on management in oviparous species. The epidemiology and preferred treatment of chronic, unfertilized ovoretention in viviparous species, such as rattlesnakes, are not well described. This study reviewed the prevalence, morbidity, and mortality associated with ovoretention in Crotalus and Sistrurus rattlesnakes over 10 yr at a single institution. Period prevalence in mature female rattlesnakes (n = 63) was 15.9%. Ovoretention was the single most common clinical diagnosis for this cohort, comprising 32% of presentations (n = 25), and was the leading identified cause of death, with attribution in 20.8% of necropsies (n = 24). Data were abstracted from 10 cases, spanning eight crotalid species. Median age was 10 yr (range, 4–18 yr), and case fatality was 50%. Affected animals had variable parity and sperm exposure and presented with diverse clinical signs. Medical management alone was infrequently successful; most cases required procedural intervention. Salpingotomy had positive outcomes, including future reproductive success. Bacterial salpingitis, oophoritis, or both were detected in four cases. Serious comorbidities included uterine rupture, sepsis, and disseminated mycobacteriosis. Although prevalence of ovoretention in rattlesnakes likely varies across institutions, it can become a significant contributor to morbidity and mortality in rattlesnake collections. Cases may have a long subclinical period despite significant pathologic lesions, and conservative management may be unrewarding. A more proactive, evidence-based approach to ovoretention could potentially improve the survival, welfare, and fertility of female rattlesnakes in human care.

Nutrition is an important aspect of inland bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps) health, and improper diet is thought to be a predisposing factor for many health disorders. The objective of this study was to survey owners of bearded dragons to learn more about their feeding practices and supplement use. Self-selecting bearded dragon owners were invited to participate in the survey if they were >18 yr of age or had guardian consent and resided in Canada or the United States. A survey titled “Nutritional Survey of Bearded Dragon Dietary Habits in North America” was available online following research ethics board approval from the University of Guelph, Canada. In total, 405 responses representing subadult and adult bearded dragons were evaluated. The most common diet offered consisted of 1–25% larval and adult insects (each) and 51–75% plant material. Approximately one half of the survey participants, especially the younger respondents, were feeding diets with <50% plant material and >50% insects. Berries were the most common plant material offered, superworms (Zophobas morio) and hornworms (Manduca sexta) were the most common larval insects offered, and house crickets (Acheta domesticus) were the most common adult insects offered. Insects were commonly dusted with calcium, vitamin D₃, and multivitamins, but plant material was not dusted. These results highlighted the requirment for the development of clear nutritional guidelines outlining the type, quantity, and frequency of food items and supplements offered and the requirement of further investigations to determine the ideal diet for this common pet lizard.

A single 30 mg/kg dose of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMS) was administered orally (n = 17) and intravenously (n = 13) in a crossover study design, with a 10 day washout period, to determine drug pharmacokinetics in healthy adult green iguanas (Iguana iguana). Blood samples were collected at 0 (pretreatment), 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, 36, 48, 72, and 96 h after PO and IV drug administration, including a 6 h sample for the IV protocol. Plasma drug concentrations were determined by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry, and oral bioavailability of trimethoprim (>100%) and sulfamethoxazole (69.4%) were then established. Pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated using a two-stage, noncompartmental analysis of naïve-averaged data. Following the crossover study, a multidose drug trial was performed to determine steady-state nädir plasma drug concentrations. Green iguanas (n=10) were given 30 mg/kg TMS PO once daily for 7 days, with blood collected from each animal on the eighth day, 24 h after the final dose of TMS. Based on once daily oral dosing for 7 days, steady-state nädir drug concentrations of trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole were 396 ± 116 and 5,290 ± 5,130 µg/l, which are below the minimum inhibitory concentrations breakpoints of TMS (≤2 µg per ml/38 µg per ml for susceptible organisms and ≥4 µg per ml/76 µg per ml for resistant organisms) for human isolates, per the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. However, the ratio of trimethoprim:sulfamethoxazole remained greater than 1:40 up to 12 h after single oral dose exposure and at the 24 h sampling after multiple dosing at steady-state.

Veterinarians' perceptions regarding anesthetics and pain management in reptiles are understudied. We conducted an internet-based survey of Brazilian practitioners to assess their knowledge and attitudes towards the use of anesthetics, as well as recognition and treatment of pain, in reptiles. The most commonly cited anesthesia-related complications were prolonged recovery periods and respiratory depression. Difficulty in recognizing pain was the main impeding factor for providing analgesics. Tramadol (88.2%) and meloxicam (97%) were the most commonly used analgesics, and ketamine (88.2%), midazolam (88.2%), and isoflurane (94.5%) were the most common anesthetic agents. In conscious patients, the assessment of pain was performed mainly by observation of behavioral changes. Only 32.7% of the respondents considered their knowledge of anesthesia and analgesia in reptiles to be adequate. More women than men considered their knowledge to be insufficient (P < 0.0068), whereas age of the practitioner had no effect. Nevertheless, all respondents believe that reptiles can feel pain, and 82% provide analgesia to most of their patients. Understanding the criteria, choice, and timing of drug administration, as well as opinions on pain and anesthesia, provides information on the current practices and might assist in targeting areas where more research and development is needed to ensure reptile welfare.

Plasma biochemistry tests are routine diagnostic tools in veterinary medicine that require an understanding of the enzyme activity profiles of individual organs for accurate interpretation. Tissue enzyme activity has been found to vary among and within taxa and has not been described in the marine toad (Rhinella marina). This study measured enzyme activities in the plasma, liver, heart, skeletal muscle, gastrointestinal system, kidney, and pancreas of five marine toads, to evaluate the tissue specificity of analytes commonly included on plasma biochemical analysis. In the marine toad, alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase activities were not specific to one organ, with minimal ALT activity measured in any organ tissue. Alkaline phosphatase activity was significantly higher in heart tissues and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) activity was significantly higher in pancreatic tissues than in all other organ tissues, and plasma. GGT activity in the kidney was also significantly higher than that found in plasma, but not all other tissues. Amylase and lipase were highest in the plasma. Creatine phosphokinase and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were specific to skeletal muscle, with significant LDH activity also found in cardiac tissue. This information will be vital to the interpretation of plasma biochemistry analysis in the marine toad and shows similarities to tissue enzyme activity in the Cuban treefrog (Osteopilus septentrionalis), suggesting extrapolation to other anurans is possible.

Vitamin D is an essential hormone that can be acquired via the diet, exposure to ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation, or a combination of both. Studies in reptiles suggest that the acquisition of vitamin D can vary between species; thus, species-specific evidence-based research should be pursued to develop appropriate husbandry recommendations. The objective of this study was to determine whether artificial UVB could be used to increase circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D₃ (25-OHD₃) concentrations in juvenile Blanding's turtles (Emydoidea blandingii). Sixteen juvenile Blanding's turtles from an ongoing headstart program at the DuPage County Forest Preservation District (Wheaton, IL, USA) were used for this study. The Blanding's turtles were randomly divided into two groups of eight by using a random number generator. The treatment group was exposed to light from three compact UVB 23-W fluorescent bulbs 12 h/day for 6 months, whereas the control group was not provided supplemental UVB lighting. Bulbs were placed 15.2 cm (6 in) from the water surface. A radiometer was used to measure UVB radiation 15.2 cm from the bulb surface on days 0 and 180. Blood samples were collected at a single time point (day 180) to measure 25-OHD₃ concentrations. There was a significant difference (P < 0.001) in plasma 25-OHD₃ concentrations between groups, with 25-OHD₃ concentrations being 5.5 times higher in the UVB group than in the controls. Based on the results of this study, we recommend exposing juvenile Blanding's turtles to artificial UVB as part of their standard care.

Cytological analyses of the oral cavity are necessary for the identification and correct evaluation of lesions in this anatomical region. Literature on this subject in reptiles is scarce, in contrast to other species kept as pets. The main objective of this descriptive study was to evaluate the normal cytological characteristics of the oral cavity of inland bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps). Twenty-eight clinically healthy inland bearded dragons, including juveniles and adult males and females, from private collections were evaluated. Oral samples from the tongue and palate were obtained from each animal. Slides were stained with modified Wright–Giemsa stain and analyzed under an optical microscope. The contents of the slides were mostly hypocellular, with no evidence of microbiological overgrowth or inflammation, and showed mostly keratinized squamous cells; basal epithelial cells were seldom observed. Occasionally, goblet cells were observed in tongue samples, but were rare in palate samples. The results of this study contribute to a better characterization of the normal oral mucosa of inland bearded dragon and are in accordance with the few previously published studies.