Squamous cell carcinoma in a tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus)

CASE HISTORY: A mature male tuatara was presented with a history of recurrent cloacal prolapse.

CLINICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL FINDINGS: The prolapsed tissue included a 12 mm diameter mass, which histologically showed cords and nodules of neoplastic epithelial cells.

DIAGNOSIS: The mass was diagnosed as a squamous cell carcinoma with ulceration of the overlying stratified squamous epithelium and diffuse inflammation of the surrounding dermis.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This case presented a rare opportunity to investigate squamous cell carcinoma in a long-lived lower vertebrate species. Future recurrence or metastasis of the mass may add useful information to the current base of knowledge of the behaviour of malignant neoplasms in reptiles.     

Presence of antibodies to Salmonella in tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus) sera

Colonisation of a host by pathogenic microorganisms is a near constant threat to the health of all vertebrates and most species have evolved an efficient adaptive immune response which produces antibodies following exposure to a specific antigen. The strength of this response can be influenced by many factors including sex and season. Tuatara are exposed to Salmonella through contact with infected skinks and soil; however, no gastrointestinal colonisation of tuatara with Salmonella has been found. Using Western blot and flow cytometry we have demonstrated that tuatara possess antibodies which recognise Salmonella antigens, but many of these antibodies are not specific and are cross-reactive with two closely related and ubiquitous bacteria, Escherichia coli and Citrobacter koseri. Our study describes the anti-Salmonella immune responses in tuatara and will help to inform decisions around maintaining wildlife health, as well as providing important insights into the role and development of adaptive immunity in reptilian species.