A spiny soft-shell turtle (Apalone spinifera) underwent coelioscopy after a 6 month history of anorexia and persistent leukocytosis. A laryngeal mass obstructed the glottis and prevented standard orotracheal intubation. Use of a red rubber catheter through a midventral cervical tracheostomy facilitated orotracheal intubation and maintenance by inhalant anesthesia. This method of intubation should be considered as an option for intubation in the chelonian if access to the glottis is impaired.

A 4-yr-old female central bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps) with a history of tenesmus was found dead 1 month after surgical debulking of a palpable caudal coelomic mass. At necropsy, a 2.5-cm-diameter, firm, lobulated, tan–yellow mass was associated with the wall of the pelvic canal and bilateral masses were present in the caudal pharynx (0.6 and 3.0 cm in diameter), the largest of which was soft and dark red. Histologically, the mass within the pelvic canal arose from the coelomic wall and consisted primarily of fibrocollagen with myxoid to cystic regions, and mixed inflammatory infiltrates. Additional findings included granulomatous dermatitis, myositis/cellulitis, coelomitis, encephalitis, and pneumonia. Vasculitis was detected in multiple organs, and in the pharynx resulted in aneurysmal dilation and perivascular hemorrhage leading to masslike lesions. Within all lesions, scattered macrophages contained oval, weakly basophilic, Gram-positive, slightly refractile, 1–2 µm-diameter ovoid organisms consistent with microsporidia. A diagnosis of systemic microsporidiosis characterized by lymphohistiocytic and heterophilic vasculitis with medial hypertrophy and fibrinoid necrosis was made. Using DNA sequencing, the organism was identified as Encephalitozoon pogonae. Encephalitozoon pogonae should be considered a differential diagnosis for vasculitis and aneurysms in bearded dragons.

A 5-yr-old tiger salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum) presented with a 0.5-cm-diameter, 0.2-cm raised swelling of the head with no previous history of trauma to that area. Repeated aspirations and imaging were nondiagnostic, and a surgical biopsy confirmed a melanophoroma. The mass was surgically resected and liquid nitrogen cryotherapy was used to treat the wound area for residual neoplastic cells. The ambient environmental temperature was also lowered from 23°C (73.4°F) to 13°C (55.4°F) to prevent neoplastic cell regrowth. The salamander died 9 months later, and a review of the tissues revealed no evidence of the melanophoroma at the surgical site and an incidental odontoma of the jaws. This case highlights the successful use of surgery, cryotherapy, and environmental temperature modification to treat a melanophoroma in a tiger salamander.

An approximately 7-yr-old male dusky pygmy rattlesnake (Sistrurus miliarius barbouri) developed marked depression in mentation shortly after restraint in an acrylic tube during a preventative health evaluation. Radiographs taken during the examination demonstrated a constrictive lesion due to the restraint tube at the level of the heart. A presumptive diagnosis of iatrogenic pseudo-pericardial tamponade was made, and the animal was immediately removed from the restraint tube. The snake's mentation returned to normal within a few minutes. Plasma collected during the examination was tested for cardiac troponin I (cTnI), which measured 0.06 ng/ml. Re-evaluation of the snake 6 wk later revealed the snake had continued to eat and behave normally. During the reassessment, the snake's plasma cTnI was found to have decreased to 0.00 ng/ml. The snake has continued to do well for the last year, before writing this case report. This is the first description of pseudo-pericardial tamponade in a venomous snake due to restraint in a tube. This is also the first description of elevated plasma cTnI associated with a cardiogenic disorder in a reptile.

A 3-yr-old female bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps) was presented to the Exotic Pet and Wildlife Veterinary Teaching Hospital at the National Autonomous University of Mexico with a 3-day history of right hindlimb swelling. Radiographs revealed lysis of the right stifle and tarsal bone. Fine-needle aspiration from the stifle revealed large numbers of macrophages and giant cells, and Ziehl-Neelsen stain revealed intracytoplasmic acid-fast bacilli-like bacteria. Standard aerobic culture was performed, with negative results. Pain management was provided with meloxicam (0.2 mg/kg PO q24h) and tramadol (11 mg/kg PO q12h); the owner declined antimicrobial therapy. Three weeks later, radiographs revealed the progression of the lytic lesions to the distal femur, proximal tibia, and tarsal bones. One month later, the patient presented for left hindlimb swelling. Follow-up radiographs revealed a total loss of the right stifle and the tibiotarsal and tarsometatarsal joints, as well as new lytic lesions at the left stifle and tibiotarsal joints. Based on the grave prognosis, the lizard was euthanized. At necropsy, granuloma-like lesions were found at the stifles and the coxofemoral, tibiotarsal, and tarsometatarsal joints. Imprints made from these lesions revealed acid-fast bacilli. No other gross lesions were identified. Microscopic review of the tissues revealed severe granulomatous osteomyelitis and myositis, as well as a severe histiocytic and heterophilic hepatitis with acid-fast intrahistiocytic bacilli. Polymerase chain reaction results confirmed these bacteria as nontuberculous mycobacteria. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first postmortem report of septic arthritis associated with Mycobacterium spp. in a bearded dragon; only two other cases have been reported, both without postmortem findings.

A 10-yr-old male, zoo-housed eastern indigo snake (Drymarchon couperi) and an 8-yr-old female, zoo-housed eastern hognose snake (Heterodon platyrhinos) both presented with bilateral cataracts and behavioral changes related to decreased vision. Phacoemulsification was performed on both snakes. The eastern indigo snake underwent stepwise phacoemulsification in both eyes and developed uveitis postoperatively, which resolved with medical management. Ultimately, this procedure was thought to result in an improved quality of life for the snake. In the eastern hognose snake, a large spectaculectomy was required for the procedure due to the small size of the globe and previous scarring of the spectacle. This led to a significantly prolonged healing time. As a result, surgery on the other eye was not performed. These cases illustrate the feasibility of performing phacoemulsification for the management of sight-limiting cataracts in snakes and provide a description of some of the complications that clinicians may encounter and the methods used to manage these challenges.

Current estimates suggest that one-fifth of all reptiles are currently threatened with extinction because of anthropogenic activity, and that if nothing is done to mitigate these impacts, massive extinctions will occur over the coming decades. Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) can be used to develop ex vivo conservation programs to ensure species survival until environmental deficiencies can be corrected. Geckos represent one of the most diverse groups of reptiles on earth and need protection; however, to date, no ART have been developed for these animals. Exogenous human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is routinely used to alter reproductive hormones of vertebrates and are integrated in ART. The purpose of this study was to determine if a single dose of hCG could increase plasma testosterone concentrations in the leopard gecko (Eublepharis macularius) within 24 h of administration. The study was performed in September, which is considered the nonbreeding season for this species in the northern hemisphere. Twelve captive-bred, adult, male leopard geckos were randomly divided into three treatment groups and administered an intramuscular injection of hCG (50 or 100 IU) or saline. Whole blood was collected prior to injection (baseline) and 12 and 24 h after injection. Plasma testosterone concentrations were measured using an enzyme immunoassay kit. There was no significant difference (P = 0.195) in testosterone concentrations between treatment groups. Because there was no difference, an observed testosterone range (61.0 ± 42.5, 5.5–149.0) for September was calculated. These results suggest that captive leopard geckos may be in a recrudescence phase in September in the northern hemisphere.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of tiletamine–zolazepam as a sedative drug in central bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps) and determine if efficacy differed based on administration route. Ten healthy, adult central bearded dragons received tiletamine–zolazepam (20 mg/kg) either intramuscularly (IM) or subcutaneously (SC) in the cranial body in a randomized, blinded, complete crossover study with a minimum washout period of 2 wk between treatments. Respiratory rate, heart rate, body position, response to restraint, spontaneous movement, righting reflex, and jaw tone were evaluated. All bearded dragons received flumazenil (0.05 mg/kg, SC) in the cranial body 45 min after the initial tiletamine–zolazepam injection. Righting reflex was lost in all bearded dragons receiving tiletamine–zolazepam IM, but only half of the animals lost righting reflex after SC injection. Jaw tone was lost in 90% (9/10) of animals receiving IM injections compared to 40% (4/10) following SC injections. Recovery from sedation was similar between route of administration (IM: 69 ± 39 min, SC: 57 ± 33 min, P= 0.43). Postsedation food intake was suppressed 2 h after return of righting reflex. Based on the findings of this study, IM administration of tiletamine–zolazepam results in a deeper and more consistent plane of sedation in bearded dragons when compared to the SC route. Prolonged recoveries were noted with both routes of administration.

Habitat loss, human persecution, and infectious diseases all threaten declining reptile populations. Lake Erie watersnakes (Nerodia sipedon insularum, LEWS), once classified as an endangered species in part due to human persecution, have recovered to stable population levels but have been observed with a high prevalence of ophidiomycosis. Strategies are needed to mitigate the current disease threat, including assessing overall wellness. Hematologic analysis provides information about the presence of inflammation and infection and thus informs health-based conservation efforts, but has not been previously performed in LEWS. The objective of this study was to evaluate hematologic parameters in LEWS and identify differences based on ophidiomycosis status. Blood was drawn from wild-caught snakes at nine sites in 2018 and 2019 and complete blood counts were performed in 180 individuals. For apparently healthy snakes, packed cell volume was significantly higher in males (median = 32.5%) compared to females (median = 26.5%; P = 0.03). Animals classified as having possible or apparent ophidiomycosis, or those with skin lesions, had a relative azurophilia and lymphopenia compared to individuals classified as negative or Ophidiomyces present, or those without skin lesions (P < 0.01). This is the first study to investigate hematology in a free-ranging population of LEWS and will serve as a baseline for future investigations that aim to improve conservation efforts through population health monitoring.