126 page Veterinary REPTILE BIOLOGY Presentation on CD

 All derivative (i.e. change in media; by compilation) work from this underlying U.S. Government public domain/public release data is COPYRIGHT © GOVPUBS

$3.00 first class shipping in U.S. and rest of world.

Includes the Adobe Acrobat Reader for reading and printing publications.

Numerous illustrations and matrices.

Contains the following key public domain (not copyrighted) U.S. Government publication(s) on one CD-ROM in both Microsoft PowerPoint and Adobe Acrobat PDF file formats:

TITLE:

Reptiles: Biology, Care, Diseases, and Models, 2005, 126 pages

SLIDE TOPICS, SUBTOPICS and CONTENTS:

Reptiles: Biology, Care, Diseases, and Models Kenneth R. López, CPT, VC, USA USAMRIID Introduction Herpetology: The study of reptiles and amphibians Poikilothermy (ectothermy) - Exhibition of body temperature which varies with the environmental temperature. Poikilotherm (ectotherm) - An animal which exhibits poikilothermy Legislation Guidelines AWA - “...warm blooded animals…” PHS Policy - “Any live, vertebrate animal…” The Guide - “…any vertebrate animal…” 2000 AVMA Panel on Euthanasia Taxonomy Class: Reptilia Order Rhynchocephalia - Tuatara (only species) Order Chelonia - Turtles and Tortoises Order Crocodilia - Alligators, Caimans, Crocodiles, Gavials Order Squamata Suborder Lacertilia (Sauria) - Lizards Suborder Ophidia (Serpentes) - Snakes Taxonomy Class: Reptilia Order Rhynchocephalia - Tuatara (only species) Order Chelonia - Turtles and Tortoises Order Crocodilia - Alligators, Caimans, Crocodiles, Gavials Order Squamata Suborder Lacertilia (Sauria) - Lizards Suborder Ophidia (Serpentes) - Snakes Taxonomy Class: Reptilia Order Rhynchocephalia - Tuatara (only species) Order Chelonia - Turtles and Tortoises Order Crocodilia - Alligators, Caimans, Crocodiles, Gavials Order Squamata Suborder Lacertilia (Sauria) - Lizards Suborder Ophidia (Serpentes) - Snakes Taxonomy Class: Reptilia Order Rhynchocephalia - Tuatara (only species) Order Chelonia - Turtles and Tortoises Order Crocodilia - Alligators, Caimans, Crocodiles, Gavials Order Squamata Suborder Lacertilia (Sauria) - Lizards Suborder Ophidia (Serpentes) - Snakes Reptiles Used in Research Crocodilians American alligator Alligator mississippiensis Spectacled caiman Caiman crocodilus Reptiles Used in Research Lizards American anole - “Laboratory mouse of the reptile world” Anolis carolinensis Six lined racerunner Cnemidophorus sexlineatus Texas banded gecko Coleonyx brevis Common green iguana Iguana iguana Reptiles Used in Research Lizards American anole - “Laboratory mouse of the reptile world” Anolis carolinensis Six lined racerunner Cnemidophorus sexlineatus Texas banded gecko Coleonyx brevis Common green iguana Iguana iguana Reptiles Used in Research Lizards American anole - “Laboratory mouse of the reptile world” Anolis carolinensis Six lined racerunner Cnemidophorus sexlineatus Texas banded gecko Coleonyx brevis Common green iguana Iguana iguana Reptiles Used in Research Lizards American anole - “Laboratory mouse of the reptile world” Anolis carolinensis Six lined racerunner Cnemidophorus sexlineatus Texas banded gecko Coleonyx brevis Common green iguana Iguana iguana Reptiles Used in Research Chelonians Red Eared Slider Turtle Trachemys scripta elegans “Pseudemys”, “Chrysemys” are other Genus names you may see. Reptiles Used in Research Snakes Common garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis Diamondback water snake Nerodia rhombifera Reptiles Used in Research Snakes California kingsnake Lampropeltis getula californiae Corn snake (red rat snake) Elaphe guttata guttata Burmese python Python moburus bivittatus Terminology Oviparous: egg laying Ovivivparous: egg is retained and embryo develops until live birth of the newborn Viviparous: live bearer; has a maternal-embryonic “placental” vasculature Growth, Metamorphosis, and Longevity Most increase in size throughout life Slowed markedly at maturation Born or hatched looking like miniature adults Development and growth of organ systems is like in mammals Musculoskeletal System Snakes No sternum, 160-400 vertebrae Pythons and Boas have vestigial pelvic girdle Four different means of locomotion: Lateral undulatory Concertina Sidewinding Rectilinear Musculoskeletal System Turtles No sternum Shell Formed by fusion of ribs and thoraco-lumbo-sacral vertebrae Composed of bony dermal plates covered with cornified epidermal scales Accounts for 30% of body weight Musculoskeletal System Lizards Lizards can break off part of their tail. Known as “Autoamputation” Will regrow with a cartilaginous rod in place of the lost vertebrae. Circulatory System Reptiles are the first animals to develop an interventricular (IV) septum and a well developed coronary artery system IV septum is incomplete in all but the crocodilians All reptiles have a right and left aorta. Join behind the heart to form a common dorsal aorta Hematology Erythrocytes are nucleated and oval Thrombocytes are elliptical, 1/3 the size of erythrocytes White blood cells: Neutrophil, heterophil, eosinophil, basophil, lymphocyte, monocyte Immune System No lymph nodes (except snapping turtle) Lymph follicles in the GI tract and spleen Have a thymus Mount antibody response to antigenic stimulation, reject allografts. Antibody production is temperature dependent IgG and IgM. IgM in higher relative quantities than in mammals Respiratory System Lungs are simple sacs attached to bronchi in most reptiles Lizard lungs are divided into chambers Crocodilian lungs are divided into chambers supplied by parabronchi Snakes: Right lung is larger than left NO Diaphragm - have a pleuroperitoneal body cavity Digestive System Organs and compartments similar to mammals No mandibular symphysis in snakes, right and left lower jaw move independently Venom glands are modified salivary glands Urinary System Reptiles are the first vertebrates to have a true metanephros as a functioning kidney Venous blood from the caudal body perfuses the kidney via a renal portal system Isotonic saline solution is 0.8% for many non marine reptiles Urinary System Snakes and crocodilians do not have a urinary bladder Lizards and turtles have a bilobed bladder Reproductive System Ovaries and testes are paired internal organs Male snakes and lizards have paired hemipenes Fertilization is internal in all species Some species can store sperm in seminal receptacle for years Reproductive System Most reptiles are egg layers Some snakes and lizards give birth to live young Dystocia is common. Confirm with radiology 26 species of lizards and 1 species of snake reproduce by parthenogenesis Nervous System Development of the cerebral cortex begins in reptiles Cranial nerves I-XII Pineal organ - median parietal eye (Tuatara) Integument Skin is dry and aglandular Shedding of the skin (ecdysis) Snakes and lizards shed periodically as they grow Lizards shed in pieces, snakes shed in one piece Sense Organs Eye Reptiles have a Harderian gland Crocodilians have a tapetum Horned toads can squirt droplets of blood from their eyelids Ear External ear openings are lacking Sense Organs Jacobson’s organ Absent in crocodilians and most turtles Specialized paired olfactory organ in the roof of the mouth Tongue of snakes and lizards brings particles to the organ, and branches of the olfactory nerve carry the sensation to the brain Sensory Organs Sensory pits Thermoreceptors in some snakes Highly developed in pit vipers, less so in Boids Detect radiant heat from a source warmer than the background Husbandry, Management, and Nutrition Caging is very species specific Temperature Preferred Optimum Temperature Zone (POTZ) Heat sources vary with species Humidity - 35-60% Water - some species must lap droplets from vegetation Husbandry, Management, and Nutrition Light Photoperiod is very important, and varies greatly with species 14 hour light, 10 hour dark works well for most species UVB very important! Husbandry, Management, and Nutrition Nutrition - species specific Herbivorous, folivorous, omnivorous, insectivorous, or carnivorous Most diseases of captive reptiles are related directly or indirectly to poor nutrition Husbandry, Management, and Nutrition Physical Restraint Pinning sticks Noose Tongs Plastic tubes Anesthesia Hypothermia is not recommended Physical restraint and local anesthesia Injectables (ketamine works well in most species, be careful with Telazol) Try Propofol! Inhalation anesthetics Isoflurane, halothane Start with a 50/50 mix of oxygen/nitrous oxide Surgery Drape by pulling a sterile, rolled up stockinette over the animals head and unrolling it over the surgical site Incise between scale Evert skin edges when suturing Blood Collection Cardiac puncture, tail vein, jugular vein (crocodilians), femoral venous plexus, palatine veins (snakes), medial canthus of the eye, toenail clipping, venous sinuses caudal to occipital region Bacterial Diseases Pseudomonas aeruginosa Lizards and snakes mostly Skin lesions, oral lesions, pneumonia, septicemia Poor husbandry predisposes animals to disease Treatment: correct husbandry deficiencies, antibiotics Bacterial Diseases Ulcerative stomatitis - Aeromonas hydrophilia Lizards and snakes Mouth lesions, which may lead to septicemia Skin lesions, anorexia, labored respiration, gaping of mouth Treatment: Debride oral lesions and irrigate with 10% hydrogen peroxide, antibiotics Bacterial Diseases Salmonella/Arizona Normal component of intestinal flora Reservoir for human infections Transmission via urine and feces Treatment: If necessary, use a broad spectrum antibiotic. Bacterial Diseases SCUD - Septicemic Cutaneous Ulcerative Disease Citrobacter Aquatic turtles Management related Lethargy, reduced muscle tone, limb paralysis Treatment: Chloramphenicol Bacterial Diseases Abscesses SQ and deeper abscesses are common Wide variety or organisms responsible Firm to fluctuant Treatment: Surgical excision to include fibrous capsule, flush, close dead space, antibiotics Bacterial Diseases Mycobacterium M. marinum is most common Sporadic disease Non specific signs: anorexia, listlessness, chronic weight loss May have SQ nodules or ulcerative skin lesions Treatment - none. Correct management problems Bacterial Diseases Respiratory Infections Aeromonas hydrophila is most common agent Principle route of transmission is via the snake mite, Ophionyssus natricis Nasal discharge, gaping of mouth, bubbly and wheezing respiratory signs Treatment: Tylosin or tetracycline, eradicate the mite vector Bacterial Diseases Blister Disease (Superficial cutaneous infections) Mainly in animals kept in a damp environment Snake mite and ticks can transmit the disease Dermal vesicles filled with fluid first, then caseous debris Treatment: Wash with mild soap, dry cage, antibiotics Viral Diseases Herpes-like virus of green sea turtles Herpes-like virus of pond turtles Papilloma-like virus of Side Neck turtles Caimen Pox Erythrocyte viruses of reptiles Paramyxovirus-like virus of viperid snakes Elapid Venom Herpesvirus Algal Infections Affects shells of aquatic turtles Secondary to inadequate sanitation Treatment: wash shell with Lugol’s solution Fungal Infections Opportunistic secondary to poor husbandry Phycomycosis: Mucor, Rhizopus, and Basidiobolus are most common Aspergillosis: A. fumigatus and A. sutus Beauvieria Penicillium Geotrichum and Fusarium Parasitic Infections Protozoans Entamoeba invadens Eimeria Cryptosporidium Caryospora Isospora Sarcocystis Parasitic Infections Sporozoans Haemogregarina, Hepatozoan, Karyolysus, Schellackia, and Lainsonia Trematodes Spirorchidae, Dasymetra, Zeugorchis, Ochestosoma, Stomatrema Parasitic Infections Cestodes Ophiotaenia, Mesocestoides, Bothridium, and Spirometra Nematodes Ophidascaris, Kalicephalus (Snake Hookworm) Rhabdias (Lungworm) Parasitic Infections Acanthocephala Spiny Headed Worms Pentastomes (Tongue worms) Sebakia, Rallietiella, Kericephalus, Armillifer Mites Ophionyssus natricis (Snake Mites) Ticks Metabolic and Nutritional Diseases Nutritional bone disease Rickets, secondary (nutritional) hyperparathyroidism, and nutritional osteodystrophy Diets deficient in vitamin D3, and with an inverse Ca:P ratio or low absolute levels of calcium Metabolic and Nutritional Diseases Nutritional bone disease Therapy: 10% calcium gluconate injection Modification of the diet to be nutritionally complete Metabolic and Nutritional Diseases Vitamin A Deficiency Seen primarily in aquatic turtles Lesions seen in the adnexal structures of the eye Treatment: Correct the diet Oral vitamin A only Metabolic and Nutritional Diseases Vitamin E, C deficiencies Treatment: Proper diet, exogenous vitamin supplementation Iodine deficiency and Hypothyroidism Goitrogenic factors in hay, lettuce, kale, spinach fed to turtles Therapy: Exogenous iodine and remove goitrogenic vegetables from diet Miscellaneous Diseases Visceral and Articular Gout Diet too high in protein or organ meat Traumatic injuries Abrasions, bite wounds, crushing injuries, damaged mouth parts, thermal burns Neoplasia All of the major groups of neoplasms found in mammals have been reported in reptiles (except primary CNS tumors)