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Alongside exotic reptiles, amphibians, such as toads, frogs, salamanders, and newts, are nowadays considered popular pets worldwide. As reported for other exotic pet animals, amphibians are known to harbor numerous gastrointestinal parasites. Nonetheless, very little data are available on captive amphibian parasitic diseases. In this study, we applied direct saline fecal smears (DSFS) to examine in total 161 stool samples from 41 different amphibian species belonging to the orders Anura and Caudata. In addition, carbolfuchsin-smear (CFS) staining (n = 74 samples) was used to detect amphibian Cryptosporidium oocysts. Also, complete dissections of deceased amphibians (n = 107) were performed to specify parasite infections and to address parasite-associated pathogenicity. Overall, examined amphibian fecal samples contained 12 different parasite taxa. The order Rhabditida with the species Rhabdias spp. and Strongyloides spp. were the most prevalent nematode species (19.3%), followed by flagellated protozoans (8.7%), Amphibiocapillaria spp./Neocapillaria spp. (7.5%), Oswaldocruzia spp. (4.3%), Blastocystis spp. (3.1%), Cosmocerca spp. (3.1%), oxyurids (Pharyngonoidae) (3.1%), spirurids (1.2%), un-sporulated coccidian oocysts (0.6%), Tritrichomonas spp. (0.6%), Karotomorpha spp. (0.6%), and Cryptosporidium spp. (0.6%). One CFS-stained fecal sample (1.4%) was positive for Cryptosporidium oocysts. Within dissected amphibians, 31 (48.4%) of the anurans and 11 (26.2%) of the salamanders were infected with gastrointestinal parasites. One cutaneous Pseudocapillaroides xenopi infection was diagnosed in an adult African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis). Etiologically, 17 (15.9%) of them died due to severe parasitic and/or bacterial infections (e.g., Chryseobacterium indologenes, Citrobacter freudii, Sphingobacterium multivorum, Klebsiella pneumoniae). High prevalence and pathological findings of several clinical amphibian parasitoses call for more detailed investigation on gastrointestinal parasite-derived molecular mechanisms associated with detrimental lesions or even death.

There are many pathways by which invasive species are introduced and become established, with the exotic pet trade becoming an increasingly important route. The abandonment of pets is a growing problem, which has been recognized widely and that has provoked some legislative responses. We developed an approach to deal with the abandonment issue that is more comprehensive than existing frameworks. We analyzed a substantial data set on exotic fish, crayfish and herptiles in northeastern Spain to illustrate the approach and its rationale. Spanish legislation mirroring the recently enforced European Strategy to control invasive species was introduced in 2011, and we analyzed information from 2009 to 2018 to assess the effectiveness of the legislation. The 2011 legislation was intended to ban the sale of a prioritized list of invasive species in retailers, which aimed to reduce the release of exotic species into recipient ecosystems. We did not see any prohibited species for sale in retailers after 2011. However, 60,753 exotic animals from 4 classes, 10 orders, 47 families and 139 species were recorded in Barcelona and elsewhere in northeastern Spain, including 134 species other than the 5 prioritized invasive species. We found little evidence of a change in exotic pet releases into urban lakes after 2011. Invasive terrapins (Trachemys spp.) were captured in urban lakes and were the most prevalent taxon in a herptile rescue centre with increased numbers after 2011. We advocate a four-tier approach to deal more effectively with the pet-abandonment issue, which includes: (1) better understanding of uncertainties in the listing of potentially invasive species; (2) allowing would-be owners to seek accreditation (through training); (3) pit-tagging to ensure that animals can be associated with registered owners, including species now prohibited but that had been traded for decades; and (4) ensuring that adults of low-cost, small-size-at-purchase species are present at the point-of-sale to ‘warn against’ the consequences of impulsive purchases.

Background There has been increasing concern expressed about the welfare of exotic pets worldwide. For the purposes of this article, an exotic pet is considered to be a non-domesticated species, where there are knowledge gaps on good practice (minimum standards of care), veterinary diagnostics and treatments. The categories of exotic pets included in this study were: small mammals ( 20 kg), birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates. Dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, mice, rats, and ferrets were excluded from the study. An online survey of pet owning staff at University College Dublin was conducted between July and August 2020 to provide the first empirical data for Ireland. In this pilot study (the first in this thematic series) we aim to characterise exotic pet ownership, the challenges and benefits of keeping exotic pets, and access to veterinary services from the pet owner’s perspective. Results Using an online survey this pilot study gathered evidence from 83 domestic and 32 exotic pet owners within the staff (n = ~ 3600 FTE) at University College Dublin, the largest third level institution in Ireland. The prevalence of exotic pet ownership was determined to be 34.4 % of households with more than 10 % of pet owning households owning only exotic pets. Fish (n = 15), reptiles (n = 13) and birds (n = 8) were the most common types of exotic pets. Thirty-four per cent of exotic pet owners never sought veterinary services, the most common reasons were due to lack of local veterinary specialists (n = 10) and good owner knowledge (n = 8). However identifying appropriate guidance on the animals’ needs was a common challenge for exotic pet owners (n = 13). A reasonable monthly cost of caring for an exotic ranged from €20–180, depending on the species. Conclusions This pilot study contains important implications for veterinary education to support the veterinary community with providing services to the exotic pet owning community. Policy issues with exotic pet ownership also need to be considered and further research into the proposed strategies to support the health and welfare of exotic pets should be carried out such as the introduction of white lists and guidelines on responsible pet ownership.

Considerable scientific, politic and economic attention has been directed to biological invasions. Multiple pathways serve to introduce species to new environments and the release or escape of pets are among the most important sources for species invasions. Risk assessments help to identify species that are likely to become invasive and to set up preventive measures. Weighing the relative importance of ecological and human factors driving the establishment success of abandoned pets, we here present a new methodological guideline to help prioritising management activities for frequently traded pet reptiles. Climate match scores between the different distribution ranges as well as traits and niche axes shared by native and non-native species were assessed. Moreover, we tested for discrepancies in niche breadth between native and non-native ranges and estimated the ability of species to coexist with humans. Potentially moderate to high establishment success in most species was linked to appropriate climate match scores, broader niches with restrained human impacts and high similarities in reproductive traits with the native herpetofauna. Providing baseline information on the invasion potential of pet reptiles, this assessment calls for trade regulations and, to an even greater degree, for large scale education campaigns to prevent the establishment of non-native populations.

Sarcocystis nesbitti, using snakes as the definitive host, is a causative agent of acute human muscular sarcocystosis in Malaysia. Therefore, it is important to explore the distribution and prevalence of S. nesbitti in snakes. Nevertheless, epizootiological information of S. nesbitti in snakes remains insufficient because few surveys have assessed Sarcocystis infection in snakes in endemic countries. In Japan, snakes are popular exotic pet animals that are imported from overseas, but the degree of Sarcocystis infection in them remains unclear. The possibility exists that muscular sarcocystosis by S. nesbitti occurs in contact with captive snakes in non-endemic countries. For a total of 125 snake faecal samples from 67 snake species collected at animal hospitals, pet shops and a zoo, this study investigated the presence of Sarcocystis using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the 18S ribosomal RNA gene (18S rDNA). Four (3.2%) faecal samples were positive by PCR. Phylogenetic analysis of the 18S rDNA sequences obtained from four amplification products revealed one isolate from a beauty snake (Elaphe taeniura), Sarcocystis zuoi, which uses rat snakes as the definitive host. The isolate from a Macklot's python (Liasis mackloti) was closely related with unidentified Sarcocystis sp. from reticulated pythons in Malaysia. The remaining two isolates from tree boas (Corallus spp.) were closely related with Sarcocystis lacertae, Sarcocystis gallotiae and unidentified Sarcocystis sp. from smooth snakes, Tenerife lizards and European shrews, respectively. This report is the first of a study examining the distribution of Sarcocystis species in captive snakes in Japan.

A case of an 11-year-old boy presenting with a two-week history of a red, irritated right eye after handling a Chilean Rose Tarantula at an exotic pet exhibition. Examination revealed innumerable microscopic hairs embedded at all levels of the cornea. He was commenced on steroid drops with subjective and objective improvement at follow up.Tarantulas use their urticating abdominal hairs as a defense mechanism by flicking them into attackers' eyes and skin, causing intense irritation. Ocular complications ranging from simple conjunctivitis, through to keratouveitis and even pan-uveitis with chorioretinitis, have been described in the literature. As exotic pets become more popular, the importance of wearing ocular protection when handling tarantulas should be stressed.