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1 March 2012 Proliferative Thyroid Lesions in Three Diplodactylid Geckos: Nephrurus amyae, Nephrurus levis, and Oedura marmorata
Catherine A. Hadfield, Leigh A. Clayton, Meredith M. Clancy, Sarah E. Beck, Lisa M. Mangus, Richard J. Montali
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Abstract

Over a 5-mo period, three diplodactylid geckos housed at the National Aquarium were diagnosed with proliferative thyroid lesions: a rough knob-tail gecko (Nephrurus amyae), a smooth knob-tail gecko (Nephrurus levis), and a marbled velvet gecko (Oedura marmorata). Clinical signs included an intraoral mass or ventral throat swelling (or both), oral bleeding, and weight loss. Both of the knob-tail geckos died. The histologic diagnosis for the rough knob-tail gecko was thyroid carcinoma with metastases to the liver and lungs, and thyroid carcinoma with no metastases was reported in the smooth knob-tail gecko. A thyroidectomy was performed on the marbled velvet gecko with a histologic diagnosis of adenomatous hyperplasia. Postoperative weight loss and bradycardia resolved following oral supplementation with levothyroxine. The animal is in normal health 10 mo post-surgery. Five other diplodactylid geckos in the collection remain unaffected, giving a 38% prevalence of proliferative thyroid lesions (3/8). The etiology remains undetermined. This is the first report of a cluster of proliferative thyroid lesions in geckos.

American Association of Zoo Veterinarians
Catherine A. Hadfield, Leigh A. Clayton, Meredith M. Clancy, Sarah E. Beck, Lisa M. Mangus, and Richard J. Montali "Proliferative Thyroid Lesions in Three Diplodactylid Geckos: Nephrurus amyae, Nephrurus levis, and Oedura marmorata," Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 43(1), 131-140, (1 March 2012). https://doi.org/10.1638/2011-0106.1
Received: 21 May 2011; Published: 1 March 2012
KEYWORDS
Adenomatous hyperplasia
gecko
levothyroxine
reptile
thyroid carcinoma
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