A 4-yr-old, male, captive-born African helmeted turtle (Pelomedusa subrufa) was presented for an ocular disorder of 3 days duration. Physical examination showed edema of all limbs and blepharedema of the left eye. Ophthalmic examination revealed severe blepharoconjunctivitis, a large melting corneal ulcer, and stromal densification that prevented evaluation of the anterior chamber. Examination of the right eye was unremarkable. Ultrasonography of the left eye revealed corneal perforation associated with severe anterior uveitis. Enucleation was performed based on the poor prognosis for the eye and the risk of septicemia. Providencia rettgeri was identified from bacterial culture. Fungal culture was negative. Histopathology of the eyeball revealed a corneal perforation associated with edema and heterophilic infiltration of the corneal stroma. Three weeks after surgery, the enucleation wound had healed. Providencia rettgeri has been reported as a rare cause of keratitis in humans. A systematic literature review showed one case of a melting corneal ulcer in an Asian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) associated with this infectious agent. This is the first report of corneal perforation associated with P. rettgeri in a reptile.

A female spayed bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps) of unknown age presented with a 48 h history of anorexia and lethargy. On presentation, the patient had a black beard, sunken eyes, and a full coelomic cavity on palpation, although no specific thickening or masses were noted. Diagnostic investigations were conducted in the form of radiographs and ultrasonography. The owner elected euthanasia due to deterioration in the patient's condition. Gross and microscopic postmortem examination revealed a torsion and volvulus of the gastrointestinal tract through a rupture in the mesentery, with marked red-black, segmental discoloration to the intestines. Limitations of this study include no further diagnostic tests other than imaging and decision to euthanize hindering the ability to explore surgical correction. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported case of intestinal torsion and volvulus through a mesenteric rupture in a bearded dragon.

A 10 year old intact male, blue-tongued skink (Tiliqua scincoides) presented with large dorsal wounds penetrating deep into the coelomic cavity. After initial debridement, decontamination, and bandaging, a powdered form of porcine extracellular matrix (ECM) was applied to the wound and covered with a non-adhesive bandage. Three days following application, a thin crust formed over the wound bed. Within 7 days of application, reduced wound depth and granulation tissue were present, at which point the crust was removed and a second application of ECM powder was made. Eleven days after initial application, approximately 50% of the wound was covered by thin epithelial tissue extending from the wound margins. Fifteen days after the first application, 100% of the wound appeared to be covered with thin epithelial tissue with marginal crusting. The patient was discharged 24 days post presentation (15 days post initial ECM application) with no further treatment. The owner was instructed to remove the bandage 7 days post discharge. Twenty-four days after the initial application, the owner reported a full shed with complete epithelization and no further crusting. The patient was followed up 31 days after the initial presentation and was assessed as recovered from the initial wounds. To the author's knowledge, this is the first reported use of an ECM powder, or a xenogeneic material, used to treat a traumatic wound in a Tiliqua.

This study aimed to validate an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and create a reference interval for androstenedione from captive Texas tortoises (Gopherus berlandieri). Reference interval creation for androstenedione could allow comparison of an individual's values to others of the species in an effort to evaluate excess or deficiency and/or provide the basis for diagnosis of reproductive health or capability. In other species, androstenedione is associated with puberty onset and specific reproductive diseases; however, values and function of this hormone remain poorly studied in reptiles. The 25 adult male tortoises sampled were maintained at Texas A&M University's Winnie Carter Wildlife and Exotic Animal Center. Serum was assayed via a validated androstenedione ELISA. Male Texas tortoise serum androstenedione concentrations were found to be 5.40 ± 5.16 ng/ml (mean ± SD), with establishment of a reference interval of 0.57–18.58 ng/ml. Relatively increased androstenedione values were associated with increased carapace length, carapace height, and tortoise weight but not gular horn length of male Texas tortoises. This information may benefit the care, management, and reproduction of captive tortoises. Extrapolation should be considered for evaluation of other species until their own intervals are established. Further research should include determination of baseline values of androstenedione for both healthy and reproductively challenged female tortoises.

The Burmese roofed turtle (Batagur trivittata), endemic to Myanmar, is a critically endangered species. Little is known about their physiology and health. Therefore, establishing physiologic reference intervals is essential for the implementation of conservation plans. This study establishes hematology and biochemistry reference intervals of a group of 23 captive Burmese roofed turtles. The animals were sampled during a 4 month period, outside the breeding season. Most blood values did not differ significantly based on animal sex. However, in females, lymphocyte count and concentrations of glucose and calcium were relatively higher, and potassium was lower compared to that of males. Better understanding of blood analytes will help strengthen ex situ management and healthcare protocols as well as improve ongoing conservation efforts for this important species.

Eastern indigo snakes (EIS; Drymarchon couperi) have unique physiological features that are not well understood. A useful tool to better understand the physiology of this species is reference intervals for plasma biochemical analytes; however, reported values for such analytes are often specific to the analyzer used. To determine whether a point-of-care analyzer would produce results comparable with those of a veterinary reference laboratory analyzer, this study aimed to compare plasma biochemical analyte values between these two types of analyzers, regardless of EIS health status. Plasma biochemical analyte values were obtained from 31 EIS and were compared between analyzers. The analytes were albumin (ALB), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total calcium (Ca), creatinine kinase (CK), glucose (GLU), potassium (K), sodium (Na), phosphorus (P), total protein (TP), and uric acid (UA). A very high correlation between analyzers was found for AST (r = 0.923), K (r = 0.916), and UA (r = 0.965); a high correlation for Ca (r = 0.724), CK (r = 0.789), GLU (r = 0.889), and TP (r = 0.812); and a moderate correlation for P (r = 0.528), a low correlation for ALB (r = 0.471), and no correlation for Na (r = -0.138). A point-of-care analyzer offers many benefits such as portability, rapid results, small sample-size requirements, and the ability to use whole blood. The Vetscan VS2 point-of-care analyzer produces similar values for only some analytes, signifying the need for method-specific reference intervals for plasma biochemical analytes in EIS.

Squamate gastric cryptosporidiosis (SGC) is a common parasitic disease in captive snakes and is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Typical medications used to treat parasitic infections are ineffective against SGC. The purpose of this study was to evaluate new drug regimens for treating SGC in captive eastern indigo snakes (EIS; Drymarchon couperi). Twenty-six EIS naturally infected with Cryptosporidium serpentis were randomly divided into three groups: Group A (n = 9) received 10 mg/kg clofazimine in corn oil twice weekly by oral gavage for 6 wk; Group B (n = 9) received 5 mg/kg curcumin in corn oil twice weekly by oral gavage for 6 wk; and Group C (n = 8) received corn oil twice weekly by oral gavage for 6 wk as a control. Cloacal swabs were collected every 2 months for 6 months to measure C. serpentis shedding by probe hybridization quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis (qPCR). Snakes that were qPCR negative after 6 months were immunosuppressed with a single dose of 4 mg/kg dexamethasone sodium-phosphate subcutaneously. These snakes were then screened by qPCR for an additional 6 months as described above. Prior to immunosuppression, 1/9 (11%) snakes from Group A, 2/9 (22%) snakes from Group B, and 2/8 (25%) snakes from Group C had tested qPCR negative. Following immunosuppression, all snakes were qPCR positive within 6 months. These findings suggest that 10 mg/kg clofazimine and 5 mg/kg curcumin administered orally twice weekly for 6 wk are ineffective in eliminating C. serpentis in naturally infected D. couperi.

Gamete collection, gamete preservation, hormone analysis, and artificial insemination have become integral parts of in situ and ex situ conservation programs for threatened and endangered species. Although these methods have been used to assist conservation in many different vertebrate groups, limited work has been done in reptiles. For example, semen collection in lizards has only recently been described and determined to be safe. The purpose of this study was to determine effective doses of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) for increasing plasma testosterone concentrations in the veiled chameleon (Chamaeleo calyptratus), as well as to determine whether the rise in testosterone impacts semen collection. A crossover design was used. Initially, chameleons were given injections of 100, 200, and 300 IU of hCG per animal, and serial plasma testosterone measurements were collected over 24 h. The 100-IU/animal dose was determined to increase plasma testosterone concentrations at a similar level to that of the 200- and 300-IU/animal doses. Next, we determined weekly injections of hCG (100 IU/animal) would maintain elevated testosterone concentrations over 30 days. In addition, we determined that elevated testosterone secondary to repeated injections of hCG decreased testicular size as determined by ultrasound. Repeated hCG injections and long-term elevation of plasma testosterone concentrations did not increase the likelihood to collect a semen sample with electroejaculation or improve ejaculate quality. Further research is needed to exogenously stimulate spermatogenesis and increase ejaculate quality to perform timed semen collections in male reptile species.