Exotics Flashcards
(122 cards)
Describe the main characteristics of the order Crocodilia.
- Crocodiles, alligators, caimans, gharials, 23 species
- Amphibious, reproduce on land
- Diet = carnivorous
- 4-legged, semi-aquatic
- Large - 1-9 meters, several 100kgs
- Oviparous - dig nest sites
- Osteoderm (osteoscutes) - plates of bone in dermis under scales
Describe the main characteristics of the order squamata.
- Snakes and lizards, 3000+ species
- Freshwater and marine aquatic, terrestiral, subterranean, arboreal
- Diet - herbivorus, insectivorous, carnivorous
- 4-legged to legless, body covered with scales
- Variable eyelids and external ears, **edysis **(shedding)
- Oviparous or ovoviviparous
- Some species are venomous
Describe the main characteristics of the order testudines.
- Tortoises and terrapins, 244+ species
- Terrestrial, amphibious, marine
- Diet - herbivores, omnivores
- Protective shell (carapace, plastron)
- Horny beak, limb variation for habitat (i.e. webbed or not)
- Oviparous on land
- Long-lived 50-100 years
Describe the main characteristics of the order sphenodontia.
- Tuataras, over 200+ million years old
- 2 species - sphenodon punctatus and S. guntheri
- Endemic to 20 islands off new zealand
- Diet - insectivorous, small birds
- Lizard-like reptial, parietal eye on head
- Oviparous, nocturnal
- Prefers low environmentla temperature (55-70F)
- CITES protected species
Describe the housing requirements for reptiles.
- Appropriate for species
- Aquarium, terrarium, vivarium
- Thrermal gradient
- Temp and humidity variable
- Natural or UV light
- Hiding place
- House singly, aggression
- Escape-proof (especially arboreal spp)
Describe the important of lighting for replites.
- Repltiles require full spectrum UV light for vitamin D synthesis and calcium metabolism (»herbirous or omnivorus species)
- Natural sunlight > artificial
- UV doesnt penetrate glass or plastic!
- 18-22 inches from reptile
- 12-18 hours of exposure (1-4 hours natural light)
Describe nutritional requirements for reptiles.
- Appropriate for species
- Adult vs juvenile may differ slightly
- Avoid feeding live prey (inhumane, injury)
- Artificial diets - depends on species
Generally:
* 1x/ 2 weeks for large snakes
* 1-2x/week for msot snakes, lizards, and crocodilia
* 2-3x / week for iguanas, aquatic turtles
* 5-7x/week for lizards, turtles, tortoises, and all juveniles
What are the major infectious diseases of reptiles (7)?
- Paramyxovirus
- Inclusion Body Disease (IBD, virus)
- Ulcerative Stomatitis (bacteria)
- Pneumonia (bacteria)
- Salmonella
- Mycobacteriosis
- External and internal parasites
Describe paramyxovirus in reptiles.
- Acute respiratory disease in snakes, epizootics
- Often complicated by secondary bacterial infections
- Dx = postmortem
- Quaratine 9- days, check PMV titers
- Hemorrhage of lungs in snake
Describe Inclusion Body Disease in reptiles.
- Retrovirus-like RNA virus
- Pathogen of boid snakes (constrictors, boas > pythons)
- Causes encephalities and flaccid paralysis
- Dx = eosinophilic intracytoplasmic inclusions
- Tx = none, euthanasia recommended
Describe ulcerative stomatiits in reptiles.
- Mouth rot, infectious stomatitis
- Secondary to poor husbandry/management
- Associated w aeromonas/pseudomonas
- Reluctance to eat, inflammation, ulcers, abscesses
- Tx = debride, topical and systemic antibiotics, husbandry
Describe pneumonia in reptiles.
- Severe resp disease in snakes and turtles
- Aeromonas, pseudomonas, klebsiella, proteus
- Secondary to paramyxovirus infection
- Resp distress, audible breathing sounds, nasal bubbling, open-mouth breathing, listing to one side in water (turtles)
- Dx = tracheal swab, tracheal wash, rads
- Tx = systemic antibx, improve husbandry, supportive care, isolation
Describe salmonella in reptiles.
- Normal intestinal flora
- Usually sublinical infection that manifests when stressed
- Acute enteritis, septicemia, pneumonia, death
- Zoonotic! (esp turtles) –> why FDA banned <4inch
Describe mycobacteriosis in reptiles.
- Non-tubercular - M. marinum, cheloni, ulcerans
- Ubiquitos in environment and water
- Nodular lesions on extremities and internal organs
- Zoonotic potential
Describe parasites in reptiles.
- More common in wild species, can occur in captive reptiles with poor husbandry
- Enteritis, anemia, skin lesions
- Mites - ophionyssus sp (scale mites)
- Ticks - amblyomma, ornithodorus
What are non-infectious diseases in reptiles (6)?
- Metabolic Bone Disease
- Hypovitaminosis A
- Dysecdysis
- Follicular Stasis/Dystocia
- Gout
- Trauma
Describe metabolic bone disease in reptiles.
- Secondary hyperparathyroidism and nutritional osteodystrophy
- Imbalance of Ca+P ration (1.2:1 rec)
- Due to improper diet or inadequate UV light
- > herbivores and omnivores
- Lethargy, anorexia, lameness, swollen joints, scoliosis, kyphosis, shell deformations (longer time)
- Dx = clinical signs, rads (bone lysis), diet analysis
- Tx = correct diet, provide UV light, parenteral Ca –> might not fix deformations
Describe Hypovitaminosis A in reptiles.
- Most common in pet aquatic turtles, also box turtles w otitis media
- Conjunctivitis, palpebral edema, otitis, blepharitis, overgrowth of horney mouth parts, respiratory disease
- Squamous metaplasia of epithelial cells
- Dx = clincial signs
- Tx = parrenteral Vit A, correct diet, tx 2 infections
Describe dysecdysis in reptiles.
- Incomplete or retained shed skin/spectacles
- Can result in unintentional aggression and strinking
- Usually secondary to low humidity, poor nutrition, etc.
- Tx = misting/soaking, physical removal
Describe follicular stasis/dystocia in reptiles.
- Egg bound or retained eggs
- Causes vary - improper diet or temperature, cracked eggs, repro infection, systemic infection
- Anorexia, lethargy, abdominal distension, restlessness
- Dx = history, palpation, rads, US
- TX = supportive care, oxytocin, ocariectomy
Describe gout in reptiles.
- Caused by excess protein, various drugs, and water deprivation
- Uric acid accumulation in various tissues
- Visceral gout = tubular damange in kidney
- Articular gout = swollen joints, painful
- Dx = history, palpation, rads
- Tx = reduce protein, increase water availability
Describe causes of trauma in reptiles.
Thermal injuries, bite wound with secondary bacterial infection
What are the important zoonotic diseases of reptiles (4)?
- Aeromonas spp
- Pseudomonas spp
- Salmonella spp
- Mycobacterium spp
Describe the characteristics of the class Amphibia.
- Carnivorous as adults, herbivorous when young
- Two-stage life cycle
- Respire through skin, have lungs
- 3 chambered heart
- Large nucleated RBCs
- External fertilizaiton, lay eggs
- Some sexually dimorphic
- Difficult to determine gender in most species without breeding condition