Search

A breeding colony of wild-origin eastern indigo snakes (EISs, Drymarchon couperi) that is part of a reintroduction program has been impacted by gastric cryptosporidiosis. Gastric cryptosporidiosis is an insidious disease of squamates caused by an apicomplexan protozoan, Cryptosporidium serpentis. Viral coinfections have been implicated as possible immunosuppressant agents that allow for disease progression and both adenovirus and reovirus have been implicated in allowing for the progression of gastric cryptosporidiosis during coinfection in other snake species. Molecular (PCR) screening for adenoviruses and reoviruses was performed for both C. serpentis-positive and C. serpentis-negative EIS within the breeding colony. No reoviruses were detected in the collection. Adenoviruses were present in 11/68 (16.2%) EISs evaluated, and there was no significant difference between C. serpentis-positive and C. serpentis-negative EISs (p = 0.196). There was no significant difference in adenovirus status between C. serpentis-positive EISs' lifespan (p = 0.191) or survival rates (p = 0.823). These findings suggest that the presence of the adenoviruses found in this study does not contribute to the formation or progression of gastric cryptosporidiosis in EISs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lactococcus garvieae is the causative agent of lactococcosis in fish and an emerging zoonotic pathogen with high levels of antimicrobial resistance. We report a case of L. garvieae– associated septicemia in a central bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps) confirmed via whole-blood PCR and direct sequencing. Following a 30-d course of ceftazidime (20 mg/kg IM q72h), the animal's clinical condition had not resolved; leukopenia persisted, with heterophil toxic change. Coelomic ultrasound findings were consistent with preovulatory follicular stasis, folliculitis, and coelomitis. Following surgical ovariectomy and an additional 30-d course of ceftazidime, the animal's behavior and appetite returned to normal, the animal tested negative via whole-blood PCR assay, and the CBC was unremarkable. To our knowledge, L. garvieae with L. garvieae– associated clinical disease has not been reported previously in a bearded dragon. We conclude that L. garvieae should be considered as a possible etiologic agent in cases of septicemia in bearded dragons, with the potential for zoonotic transmission warranting further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Caryospora- like organisms (CLOs) form a clade of at least 11 genotypes of related coccidia that can cause epizootic mortality in marine turtles. The biology, transmission, host species range, and host cell tropism of these organisms are still largely unknown. The goal of this study was to characterize the host cell tropism, pathologic and ultrastructural features, and phylogeny associated with the first report of a mortality event due to CLO in the freshwater red-eared slider turtle (Trachemys scripta elegans). Sudden mortalities within a clutch of captive-raised red-eared slider hatchlings (n = 8) were recorded, and deceased animals had severe segmental to diffuse, transmural, fibrinonecrotic enterocolitis and multifocal to coalescing hepatic necrosis, among other lesions associated with numerous intracytoplasmic developing stages of intralesional coccidia. Among the different developmental stages, merozoites were ultrastructurally characterized by an apical complex. A pan-apicomplexan polymerase chain reaction (PCR) yielded a 347 bp-amplicon matching the Schellackia / Caryospora -like clade with 99.1% identity to the US3 strain from green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) and 99.1% identity to Schellackia sp. Isolate OC116. Surviving hatchlings were treated with toltrazuril sulfone (ponazuril) but were subsequently euthanized due to the risk of spreading the parasite to other chelonids in the collection. The ponazuril-treated hatchlings (n = 4) had mild proliferative anterior enteritis, with few intraepithelial coccidia in one hatchling confirmed as CLO by PCR. This is the first report of Caryospora -like coccidiosis in non-cheloniid turtles, highlighting the relevance of this disease as an emerging highly pathogenic intestinal and extra-intestinal form of coccidiosis of turtles with potential cross-species infectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses two cases of microsporidial infection in bearded dragons. The first case involved a 4-year-old male dragon with symptoms of hematochezia, lethargy, and dehydration. The second case involved a 6-month-old female dragon with symptoms of lethargy, inappetence, and hypersalivation. Both cases showed leukocytosis and toxic change in the blood, and cytologic evaluation revealed the presence of microsporidia. The article highlights the importance of cytology and PCR in diagnosing microsporidial infections in bearded dragons. Further research is needed to understand the epidemiology of this organism. [Extracted from the article]

Squamate gastric cryptosporidiosis (SGC) is a common parasitic disease in captive snakes and is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Typical medications used to treat parasitic infections are ineffective against SGC. The purpose of this study was to evaluate new drug regimens for treating SGC in captive eastern indigo snakes (EIS; Drymarchon couperi). Twenty-six EIS naturally infected with Cryptosporidium serpentis were randomly divided into three groups: Group A (n = 9) received 10 mg/kg clofazimine in corn oil twice weekly by oral gavage for 6 wk; Group B (n = 9) received 5 mg/kg curcumin in corn oil twice weekly by oral gavage for 6 wk; and Group C (n = 8) received corn oil twice weekly by oral gavage for 6 wk as a control. Cloacal swabs were collected every 2 months for 6 months to measure C. serpentis shedding by probe hybridization quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis (qPCR). Snakes that were qPCR negative after 6 months were immunosuppressed with a single dose of 4 mg/kg dexamethasone sodium-phosphate subcutaneously. These snakes were then screened by qPCR for an additional 6months as described above. Prior to immunosuppression, 1/9 (11%) snakes from Group A, 2/9 (22%) snakes from Group B, and 2/8 (25%) snakes from Group C had tested qPCR negative. Following immunosuppression, all snakes were qPCR positive within 6 months. These findings suggest that 10 mg/kg clofazimine and 5 mg/kg curcumin administered orally twice weekly for 6 wk are ineffective in eliminating C. serpentis in naturally infected D. couperi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]