An approximately two-year-old corn snake (Pantherophis guttatus) presented with a swelling of the mandible. The animal was treated for two months with no response. Unfortunately, the snake's condition deteriorated and it was euthanized. Grossly, the mass in the mandible was yellow–white and replaced normal bone and soft tissue of the jaw. Additional masses were noted in the heart, kidney, lung, pancreas, and eye. The mass in the mandible was comprised of a sheet of amorphous basophilic material resembling typical cartilage matrix with slightly irregular lacunar spaces. Tumor cells had abundant cytoplasm, vesicular or hyperchromatic nuclei, and prominent nucleoli. Mitotic figures were not seen. Scattered foci of neoplastic cartilaginous cells were noted in the heart, lung, kidney, pancreas, and eye. The final diagnosis for this case was secondary chondrosarcoma. Chondrosarcomas are not considered a common form of neoplasia in reptiles. When it is diagnosed, it appears to be more commonly associated with the vertebral column. Chondrosarcomas should be considered in the differential list for snakes (or other reptiles) that present with masses associated with the bone or cartilage.

An adult, 2.9 kg, 4-year-old female green iguana, Iguana iguana, was examined for anorexia, weight loss, and lethargy. Physical examination revealed a dull integument, minimal pelvic and tailbase adipose deposits, and a distended coelom. Bilateral renal enlargement was identified on intracloacal digital palpation. Complete blood count and serum biochemistry results indicated hepatic and renal disease. Radiographs and ultrasound revealed severe liver enlargement and ascites. Exploratory coeliotomy revealed a massive and diffusely enlarged liver with rounded margins and a smooth capsular surface, indicative of an infiltrative process. Due to poor prognosis, the owner requested that the animal be euthanized. A diagnosis of acinar hepatocellular carcinoma was made on histopathological evaluation of liver tissue collected after euthanasia. Eosinophilic intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies, surrounded by clear halos, were seen in a few neoplastic cells. Several malignant hepatic tumors have been previously reported in reptiles; however, this case report documents the first reptilian adenoid hepatocellular carcinoma associated with intracytoplasmic eosinophilic inclusions in neoplastic hepatocytes.

The impact of mercury (Hg) and selenium (Se) compounds on wildlife health is an issue of concern, especially because anthropogenic practices (e.g., fossil fuel combustion, metal processing) release these trace elements and their compounds into the environment where they become incorporated into food chains. Little is known about the concentrations of these elements in tissues (other than in blood) of most wild reptiles, especially for pelagic species. The purpose of this study was to document Hg and Se concentrations in leatherback sea turtles, Dermochelys coriacea. To assess Hg and Se concentrations in leatherbacks, multiple tissue samples (whole blood, enteric contents from the small intestine, feces, yolked follicles, liver, and salt gland) were collected from dead, stranded male and female leatherbacks that were assigned to three life stage classes (juvenile, subadult, adult) identified at gross necropsy. The tissues were tested for Hg and Se concentrations. The liver exhibited the highest concentrations of both Hg and Se compared with other tissues. Adults had the highest concentrations of Hg in their livers compared with juveniles and subadults; however, Se concentrations did not differ between subadults and adults. Leatherbacks with a larger curved carapace length had greater liver Hg and Se concentrations. The Se:Hg ratio in the liver was highest in juveniles, followed by subadults, and then adults. Because these animals are long-lived, Hg or Se accumulation may become a physiological challenge, especially because of ongoing anthropogenic input of these elements and their compounds into the environment. Further population monitoring of toxicants in marine turtles is warranted to determine whether tissue concentrations of these elements continue to increase long term or vary with age, life stage, sex, or reproductive status.

In May 2011, 22 cloacal swabs and plasma samples were collected from 22 bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps) from a rescue center in Munich, Germany. All of the lizards swabbed were healthy throughout the observation period and did not show any clinical signs during the course of the study. The swabs were tested for the presence of ferlaviruses (Paramyxoviridae) and adenoviruses (AdVs) using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and PCR methods. Virus isolation attempts were carried out on two iguana heart cells. Plasma was tested for antibodies against several ferlavirus isolates using a hemagglutination inhibition (HI) test. A second round of testing was carried out on 27 animals four months later. Of all swabs tested in the first round, 11 (50%) were positive for ferlaviruses using an RT-PCR. Sequences of the PCR products of all detected ferlaviruses were 100% identical to corresponding sequences of isolate Pyth-GER01 that was originally isolated from a python. One swab (4.5%) was positive for an AdV, and the PCR product was 100% identical to Agamid AdV-1 (Acc. No. DQ077706). No virus was isolated from the cloacal swabs. The HI test revealed low titers of ≤8 against Pyth-Ger01 for all samples tested. Four months later, no ferlaviruses were detected in any of the samples tested by RT-PCR. However, four animals (14.8%) were found positive for an AdV. Sequence analyses of a portion of the DNA-dependent DNA polymersase gene revealed three new AdVs that were 99% similar to Agamid AdV-1 (Acc. No AY576678). Antibody titers of 16–32 against at least one ferlavirus were detected in six of the animals sampled four months later. This is the first report documenting the occurence of ferlavirus infection in bearded dragons.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of dexmedetomidine and ketamine and reversal with atipamezole administered intranasally to Trachemys scripta scripta. Eight healthy adult turtles received 0.2 and 10 mg/kg of dexmedetomidine and ketamine, respectively. Heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature, and sedation (on a scale of 0–4) were measured. Blood was collected 45 min post induction for drug plasma levels from both the subcarapacial and tail veins, followed by intranasal atipamezole administration (0.5 mg/kg). The most frequent sedation scores (2 and 3) provided a level of sedation deep enough to perform a thorough physical exam and minor clinical procedures. All of the turtles became active in 18.9 ± 7 min after atipamezole administration. No adverse effects were observed and all measured cardiopulmonary parameters were within normal limits. Plasma levels of both dexmedetomidine and ketamine indicated adequate absorption and distribution with no difference in the levels obtained from either the subcarapacial or the tail venipuncture sites. A combination of dexmedetomidine–ketamine can be used intranasally to induce moderate to heavy sedation for physical examination, venipuncture, and other minor procedures in the yellow-bellied slider without adverse effects. In addition, the intranasal administration of atipamezole appears efficacious for reversal of dexmedetomidine. Intranasal administration of anesthetic agents holds promise for sedating and anesthetizing chelonians, which are often difficult to thoroughly examine and restrain for biological sample collection, both in the clinic and in the field.

The western pond turtle (Emys marmorata), a species of concern in California, is a common wildlife patient in veterinary hospitals and wildlife rehabilitation centers within its geographic range. The objectives of this study were to obtain hematologic and biochemistry values for free-ranging western pond turtles and to compare those values to a captive population. Two populations, free-ranging (n = 20) and captive (n = 10), were sampled using physical examination, complete blood count, plasma biochemistries, and Salmonella spp. culture from cloacal swabs. Heterophil (P = 0.0001), azurophil (P = 0.0001), eosinophil (P = 0.0039), monocyte (P = 0.0001), albumin (P = 0.0001), aspartate aminotransferase (P = 0.003), calcium (P = 0.001), glutamate dehydrogenase (P = 0.0006), globulin (P = 0.0082), sodium (P = 0.0014), total protein (P = 0.0001), and uric acid (P = 0.0094) concentrations were significantly different between the two populations. Creatine kinase (P = 0.0012) and phosphorus (P = 0.0068) were also significantly different between males and females within the free-ranging population. Salmonella spp. cloacal cultures from all turtles were negative. The hematologic and biochemistry intervals reported for this free-ranging population may be used to assess disease for this species; however, differences between the two populations examined highlight how environmental and nutritional factors can induce changes in commonly evaluated hematological and biochemical values.

The aim of this study was to determine the normal coelomic structures of a healthy red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) and yellow-bellied sliders (Trachemys scripta scripta) using magnetic resonance images and gross cross-sectional anatomy. Three- or six-centimeter thick, T1-weighted and T2-weighted images were obtained from three live adult red-eared (n = 1) and yellow-bellied sliders (n = 2) with a 1-Tesla superconducting magnet and a surface coil. Magnetic resonance imaging was performed in transverse, sagittal, and dorsal planes. Images of the coelomic cavity were compared to frozen, cross-sectional cadaveric anatomy of the same turtles. Anatomic structures were identified and labeled. Resulting images presented excellent, detailed information of coelomic structures. The intent of this study was to develop an atlas of cross-sectional anatomy and magnetic resonance appearance of the normal coelomic cavity in red-eared and yellow-bellied sliders that can be used as a reference for the interpretation of any cross-sectional modality.

The bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps) is (perhaps) the most common pet lizard in the United States. The purpose of this review article is to provide a practical overview of the natural history, husbandry, nutrition, reproduction, physical examination method, diagnostic techniques, currently recognized diseases, and therapeutics found useful for the bearded dragon. Nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism and trauma attributable to cage-mate aggression are common problems encountered in juvenile dragons. Intestinal impaction and renal and cardiac diseases are more commonly seen in adult dragons. Newly described malignancies such as periocular squamous cell carcinoma and gastric carcinoma have also been reported in juvenile and adult bearded dragons.