Cloacoscopy in reptiles

Endoscopy of the reptile cloaca is a noninvasive method for the diagnosis of disorders of the cloaca and the structures which empty into it. The technique may also be helpful in sex determination and for local administration of drugs.     

Cloacoscopy in reptiles

Summary

Endoscopy of the reptile cloaca is a noninvasive method for the diagnosis of disorders of the cloaca and the structures which empty into it. The technique may also be helpful in sex determination and for local administration of drugs.     

Poisonings in reptiles.

Reptiles are increasingly being kept as pets in American households. The basic principles of emergency medicine are the same for all species, but reptilian species present special diagnostic challenges to veterinary clinicians when they become ill. Reptiles in captivity can become accidentally poisoned in a variety of ways. Veterinarians treating small animal emergencies must make an effort to familiarize themselves with the large body of literature and resources that are developing regarding both nontraditional exotic companion species and advances in toxicology.     

Parasites in pet reptiles

Exotic reptiles originating from the wild can be carriers of many different pathogens and some of them can infect humans. Reptiles imported into Slovenia from 2000 to 2005, specimens of native species taken from the wild and captive bred species were investigated. A total of 949 reptiles (55 snakes, 331 lizards and 563 turtles), belonging to 68 different species, were examined for the presence of endoparasites and ectoparasites. Twelve different groups (Nematoda (5), Trematoda (1), Acanthocephala (1), Pentastomida (1) and Protozoa (4)) of endoparasites were determined in 26 (47.3%) of 55 examined snakes. In snakes two different species of ectoparasites were also found. Among the tested lizards eighteen different groups (Nematoda (8), Cestoda (1), Trematoda (1), Acanthocephala (1), Pentastomida (1) and Protozoa (6)) of endoparasites in 252 (76.1%) of 331 examined animals were found. One Trombiculid ectoparasite was determined. In 563 of examined turtles eight different groups (Nematoda (4), Cestoda (1), Trematoda (1) and Protozoa (2)) of endoparasites were determined in 498 (88.5%) animals. In examined turtles three different species of ectoparasites were seen. The established prevalence of various parasites in reptiles used as pet animals indicates the need for examination on specific pathogens prior to introduction to owners.     

Emergent diseases in reptiles

This article reviews basic clinical techniques necessary for emergency treatment of reptile patients. Approaches to common emergency presentations of reptile patients, including trauma, burns, dystocia, renal failure, sepsis, dyspnea, gastrointestinal foreign bodies, cloacal prolapse, and toxicosis are covered.     

Nonreproductive surgery in reptiles.

As reptiles have gained popularity as pets, veterinarians are more frequently called on to perform surgical procedures on these pets. Veterinarians must have a basic understanding of the anatomic and physiologic differences between reptilian and mammalian companion animals. This article reviews some basic points about reptilian anatomy and physiology that are important to consider when performing surgery on reptilian patients. This article covers approaches to the coelomic cavity in the different groups of reptiles and some basic concepts regarding surgery on different, nonreproductive systems in these reptiles.     

Wound management in reptiles.

Our understanding into the healing response of reptile wounds is in its infancy. To date, many of the methods we have used have been adopted from human, mammalian, or avian species, with varying success. Future research should focus on the development of methods to improve our management of contaminated wounds, minimize the negative inflammatory responses occurring in a wound, and shorten wound-healing time.     

Blood sampling techniques in reptiles

Disposition of the superficial blood vessels was studied in 38 species of reptiles with a view to examining their suitability for taking blood samples. It was concluded that the coccygeal veins were probably the most suitable for this purpose and the precise techniques for sampling from the different orders are described.     

Renal pathology in reptiles.

The class of Reptilia varies widely. Both the gross morphology and microscopic anatomy of the kidneys are specific for each species.In each species of reptile, the physiology of the renal system has adapted to the specific conditions of life, including, among other factors, the type of food, environmental temperature, and the availability of water. The pathology of the kidneys in reptiles has been poorly studied, but in recent years a number of investigators have specifically studied reptilian renal pathology.     

Trichinella zimbabwensis in wild reptiles of Zimbabwe and Mozambique and farmed reptiles of Ethiopia

In 1995, a new species of Trichinella (Trichinella zimbabwensis) was discovered in farmed Nile crocodiles (Crocodylus niloticus) in Zimbabwe, where the mode of transmission was the consumption of the meat of slaughtered crocodiles, used as feed. To determine whether T. zimbabwensis affects poikilotherm vertebrates in the wild, monitor lizards (Varanus niloticus) and Nile crocodiles were collected in Zimbabwe and Mozambique. In 5 (17.6%) of the 28 monitor lizards from Zimbabwe, T. zimbabwensis larvae were identified. For the wild Nile crocodiles from Mozambique, species-level identification was not possible, yet immunohistochemical analysis revealed that 8 (20%) of the 40 animals harboured non-encapsulated Trichinella sp. larvae, which probably belonged to T. zimbabwensis. This is the first report of T. zimbabwensis in wild reptiles, and the findings are consistent with reports that vertebrates with scavenger and cannibalistic behaviour are the most important hosts of Trichinella spp. The wide distribution of monitor lizards and crocodiles in Africa and the development of national crocodile breeding programs in many African countries should be taken into consideration when evaluating the risk of transmission of this parasite to mammals, including humans.