DOCSLIB.ORG

Common Diseases of Urban Wildlife: Reptiles

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Common Diseases of Urban Wildlife: Reptiles The Australian Registry of Wildlife Health is committed to the preservation of Australia's biodiversity through increased understanding of the interaction among animals, the environment, and disease causing agents. Production of this document was made possible by: Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation – an Australian Government initiative Cite this document as: Hall, J. and Rose, K. 2021. Common Diseases of Urban Wildlife: Reptiles. Taronga Conservation Society Australia, Sydney. All Images are subject to Copyright© The information and materials contained in this section of the site are subject to copyright and are for individual educational use only. Authorisation should be sought from the Registry for any other use of these materials. The views expressed in this document are those of the authors, and not necessarily of their organisations. The Registry makes every effort to verify the information contained within this document, but the accuracy and completeness of the information cannot be guaranteed. The reader assumes all risk in using information provided. This document contains images of sick and dead wildlife. These images are included for the sole purpose of improving wildlife care and welfare. If you have any concerns regarding information contained in this document, please contact the Registry directly. 1 | Page Contents 1 List of Images .................................................................................................................................. 4 2 Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 6 3 Parasitic Disease.............................................................................................................................. 6 3.1 Ectoparasites ........................................................................................................................... 6 3.2 Endoparasites .......................................................................................................................... 8 3.2.1 Gastrointestinal parasites ............................................................................................... 8 3.2.2 Blood parasites .............................................................................................................. 10 3.2.3 Protozoa ........................................................................................................................ 11 4 Bacterial diseases .......................................................................................................................... 13 4.1 Salmonellosis ........................................................................................................................ 13 4.2 Mycobacteriosis .................................................................................................................... 14 4.3 Enterococcus lacertideformus in skinks and geckos ............................................................. 15 4.4 Dermatophilosis .................................................................................................................... 16 5 Viral diseases ................................................................................................................................. 16 5.1 Nidoviruses ........................................................................................................................... 16 5.1.1 Bellinger River Virus ...................................................................................................... 16 5.1.2 Bobtail flu (Shingleback nidovirus-1) ............................................................................ 17 5.1.3 Snake nidovirus ............................................................................................................. 17 5.2 Adenoviruses ......................................................................................................................... 18 5.3 Paramyxovirus ....................................................................................................................... 18 5.3.1 Sunshine virus ............................................................................................................... 18 6 Fungal diseases ............................................................................................................................. 18 6.1 Mycotic and other dermatoses ............................................................................................. 18 6.1.1 Nannizziopsis ................................................................................................................. 19 7 Nutritional Disease ........................................................................................................................ 20 7.1 Nutritional Osteodystrophy (metabolic bone disease) ......................................................... 20 7.1.1 Severe emaciation in chelonians .................................................................................. 21 8 Traumatic Injury ............................................................................................................................ 22 8.1 Shock ..................................................................................................................................... 22 8.2 Soft Tissue Injury including bite wounds .............................................................................. 22 8.3 Cloacal or penile prolapse ..................................................................................................... 23 8.4 Shell Injury ............................................................................................................................ 23 8.5 Tail injuries ............................................................................................................................ 24 9 Diseases of Unknown Aetiology .................................................................................................... 24 9.1 Neoplasia............................................................................................................................... 24 2 | Page 10 Species mentioned in text ......................................................................................................... 25 11 References ................................................................................................................................ 27 3 | Page 1 List of Images Figure 1 a) Central netted dragon cloacal mites (Image: P Thompson), b) orange mites clustered around toenails of a wild Asian house gecko, and c) orange mites under scales along the ventral tail of a wild Asian house gecko .................................................................................................................... 7 Figure 2 a) Engorged adults and nymphs, Amblyomma moreliae, causing b) anaemia in a wild eastern water dragon, and c) camouflaged ticks on the ventral surface of a lace monitor ................................ 7 Figure 3 a, b) A ball of leeches in the axillary area of a Bellinger River Snapping Turtle (b, arrows), and b) invertebrate eggs (unknown species) glued over the surface of the plastron and underside of carapace (asterisk) .................................................................................................................................. 7 Figure 4 Various reptile faecal parasites a) strongyle-type ova, b) strongyle larvae, c) ascarid ovum, d) oxyurid ovum, e) oxyurid ovum, f) capillaria ovum, g) cestode ovum (note characteristic hooklets), h) encysted Nyctotherus sp. ciliate, i) Nyctotherus sp. ciliate. Images courtesy of P. Thompson. ............. 8 Figure 5 Eastern water dragon with a) profound anaemia caused by a severe co-infection of ticks and (b,c) Abbreviata physignathi nematodes in the stomach ....................................................................... 9 Figure 6 Marine turtles with a) aortic aggregate of adult trematodes, b) adult trematodes (arrow) and serosal granulomas (asterisk) in small intestine, c) adult trematodes along mucosal surface of small intestine, d) serosal granulomas, e) adult trematodes in stomach (black arrow), and f) adult trematodes in small intestine (arrows) ................................................................................................. 10 Figure 7 Marine turtle histopathology (H&E) a) trematode ova in spleen, b) trematode ova in aorta, and c) adult trematode in small intestinal lumen ................................................................................. 10 Figure 8 Trematodes seen a) in a faecal float, b) on a wet preparation of a serosal surface scrape of small intestine, c) excysting trematodes on serosal surface scrape of small intestine, and d) adult trematodes viewed under a dissecting microscope ............................................................................. 10 Figure 9 Haemogregarine parasite within a red cell identified on blood smear, Diamond Python. Image courtesy of P. Thompson. .......................................................................................................... 11 Figure 10 Microsporidia, central knob-tail gecko ................................................................................. 11 Figure 11 Cryptosporidia spp. Faecal sample, Inland Taipan. Modified Zeihl-Neilsen stain................. 12 Figure 12 a) unsporulated and b) sporulated coccidia (Isospora) in faeces, and c) unsporulated Schellackia-like coccidian and d) sporulated
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Gliding Dragons and Flying Squirrels: Diversifying Versus Stabilizing Selection on Morphology Following the Evolution of an Innovation
    vol. 195, no. 2 the american naturalist february 2020 E-Article Gliding Dragons and Flying Squirrels: Diversifying versus Stabilizing Selection on Morphology following the Evolution of an Innovation Terry J. Ord,1,* Joan Garcia-Porta,1,† Marina Querejeta,2,‡ and David C. Collar3 1. Evolution and Ecology Research Centre and the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Kensington, New South Wales 2052, Australia; 2. Institute of Evolutionary Biology (CSIC–Universitat Pompeu Fabra), Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta, 37–49, Barcelona 08003, Spain; 3. Department of Organismal and Environmental Biology, Christopher Newport University, Newport News, Virginia 23606 Submitted August 1, 2018; Accepted July 16, 2019; Electronically published December 17, 2019 Online enhancements: supplemental material. Dryad data: https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.t7g227h. fi abstract: Evolutionary innovations and ecological competition are eral de nitions of what represents an innovation have been factors often cited as drivers of adaptive diversification. Yet many offered (reviewed by Rabosky 2017), this classical descrip- innovations result in stabilizing rather than diversifying selection on tion arguably remains the most useful (Galis 2001; Stroud morphology, and morphological disparity among coexisting species and Losos 2016; Rabosky 2017). Hypothesized innovations can reflect competitive exclusion (species sorting) rather than sympat- have drawn considerable attention among ecologists and ric adaptive divergence (character displacement). We studied the in- evolutionary biologists because they can expand the range novation of gliding in dragons (Agamidae) and squirrels (Sciuridae) of ecological niches occupied within communities. In do- and its effect on subsequent body size diversification. We found that gliding either had no impact (squirrels) or resulted in strong stabilizing ing so, innovations are thought to be important engines of selection on body size (dragons).
    [Show full text]
  • Level 1 Fauna Survey of the Gruyere Gold Project Borefields (Harewood 2016)
    GOLD ROAD RESOURCES LIMITED GRUYERE PROJECT EPA REFERRAL SUPPORTING DOCUMENT APPENDIX 5: LEVEL 1 FAUNA SURVEY OF THE GRUYERE GOLD PROJECT BOREFIELDS (HAREWOOD 2016) Gruyere EPA Ref Support Doc Final Rev 1.docx Fauna Assessment (Level 1) Gruyere Borefield Project Gold Road Resources Limited January 2016 Version 3 On behalf of: Gold Road Resources Limited C/- Botanica Consulting PO Box 2027 BOULDER WA 6432 T: 08 9093 0024 F: 08 9093 1381 Prepared by: Greg Harewood Zoologist PO Box 755 BUNBURY WA 6231 M: 0402 141 197 T/F: (08) 9725 0982 E: [email protected] GRUYERE BOREFIELD PROJECT –– GOLD ROAD RESOURCES LTD – FAUNA ASSESSMENT (L1) – JAN 2016 – V3 TABLE OF CONTENTS SUMMARY 1. INTRODUCTION .....................................................................................................1 2. SCOPE OF WORKS ...............................................................................................1 3. RELEVANT LEGISTALATION ................................................................................2 4. METHODS...............................................................................................................3 4.1 POTENTIAL VETEBRATE FAUNA INVENTORY - DESKTOP SURVEY ............. 3 4.1.1 Database Searches.......................................................................................3 4.1.2 Previous Fauna Surveys in the Area ............................................................3 4.1.3 Existing Publications .....................................................................................5 4.1.4 Fauna
    [Show full text]
  • Management of the Terrestrial Small Mammal and Lizard Communities in the Dune System Of
    Management of the terrestrial small mammal and lizard communities in the dune system of Sturt National Park, Australia: Historic and contemporary effects of pastoralism and fox predation Ulrike Sabine Klöcker (Dipl. – Biol., Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms Universität Bonn, Germany) Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia 2009 Abstract This thesis addressed three issues related to the management and conservation of small terrestrial vertebrates in the arid zone. The study site was an amalgamation of pastoral properties forming the now protected area of Sturt National Park in far-western New South Wales, Australia. Thus firstly, it assessed recovery from disturbance accrued through more than a century of Sheep grazing. Vegetation parameters, Fox, Cat and Rabbit abundance, and the small vertebrate communities were compared, with distance to watering points used as a surrogate for grazing intensity. Secondly, the impacts of small-scale but intensive combined Fox and Rabbit control on small vertebrates were investigated. Thirdly, the ecology of the rare Dusky Hopping Mouse (Notomys fuscus) was used as an exemplar to illustrate and discuss some of the complexities related to the conservation of small terrestrial vertebrates, with a particular focus on desert rodents. Thirty-five years after the removal of livestock and the closure of watering points, areas that were historically heavily disturbed are now nearly indistinguishable from nearby relatively undisturbed areas, despite uncontrolled native herbivore (kangaroo) abundance. Rainfall patterns, rather than grazing history, were responsible for the observed variation between individual sites and may overlay potential residual grazing effects.
    [Show full text]
  • Draft Animal Keepers Species List
    Revised NSW Native Animal Keepers’ Species List Draft © 2017 State of NSW and Office of Environment and Heritage With the exception of photographs, the State of NSW and Office of Environment and Heritage are pleased to allow this material to be reproduced in whole or in part for educational and non-commercial use, provided the meaning is unchanged and its source, publisher and authorship are acknowledged. Specific permission is required for the reproduction of photographs. The Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) has compiled this report in good faith, exercising all due care and attention. No representation is made about the accuracy, completeness or suitability of the information in this publication for any particular purpose. OEH shall not be liable for any damage which may occur to any person or organisation taking action or not on the basis of this publication. Readers should seek appropriate advice when applying the information to their specific needs. All content in this publication is owned by OEH and is protected by Crown Copyright, unless credited otherwise. It is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0), subject to the exemptions contained in the licence. The legal code for the licence is available at Creative Commons. OEH asserts the right to be attributed as author of the original material in the following manner: © State of New South Wales and Office of Environment and Heritage 2017. Published by: Office of Environment and Heritage 59 Goulburn Street, Sydney NSW 2000 PO Box A290,
    [Show full text]
  • (Apicomplexa: Adeleorina) from the Blood of Echis Pyramidum: Morphology and SSU Rdna Sequence Hepatozoon Pyramidumi Sp
    Original Article ISSN 1984-2961 (Electronic) www.cbpv.org.br/rbpv Hepatozoon pyramidumi sp. n. (Apicomplexa: Adeleorina) from the blood of Echis pyramidum: morphology and SSU rDNA sequence Hepatozoon pyramidumi sp. n. (Apicomplexa: Adeleorina) do sangue de Echis pyramidum: morfologia e sequência de SSU rDNA Lamjed Mansour1,2; Heba Mohamed Abdel-Haleem3; Esam Sharf Al-Malki4; Saleh Al-Quraishy1; Abdel-Azeem Shaban Abdel-Baki3* 1 Zoology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 2 Unité de Recherche de Biologie Intégrative et Écologie Évolutive et Fonctionnelle des Milieux Aquatiques, Département de Biologie, Faculté des Sciences de Tunis, Université de Tunis El Manar, Tunisia 3 Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, Egypt 4 Department of Biology, College of Sciences, Majmaah University, Majmaah 11952, Riyadh Region, Saudi Arabia How to cite: Mansour L, Abdel-Haleem HM, Al-Malki ES, Al-Quraishy S, Abdel-Baki AZS. Hepatozoon pyramidumi sp. n. (Apicomplexa: Adeleorina) from the blood of Echis pyramidum: morphology and SSU rDNA sequence. Braz J Vet Parasitol 2020; 29(2): e002420. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1984-29612020019 Abstract Hepatozoon pyramidumi sp. n. is described from the blood of the Egyptian saw-scaled viper, Echis pyramidum, captured from Saudi Arabia. Five out of ten viper specimens examined (50%) were found infected with Hepatozoon pyramidumi sp. n. with parasitaemia level ranged from 20-30%. The infection was restricted only to the erythrocytes. Two morphologically different forms of intraerythrocytic stages were observed; small and mature gamonts. The small ganomt with average size of 10.7 × 3.5 μm. Mature gamont was sausage-shaped with recurved poles measuring 16.3 × 4.2 μm in average size.
    [Show full text]
  • Iguanid and Varanid CAMP 1992.Pdf
    CONSERVATION ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR IGUANIDAE AND VARANIDAE WORKING DOCUMENT December 1994 Report from the workshop held 1-3 September 1992 Edited by Rick Hudson, Allison Alberts, Susie Ellis, Onnie Byers Compiled by the Workshop Participants A Collaborative Workshop AZA Lizard Taxon Advisory Group IUCN/SSC Conservation Breeding Specialist Group SPECIES SURVIVAL COMMISSION A Publication of the IUCN/SSC Conservation Breeding Specialist Group 12101 Johnny Cake Ridge Road, Apple Valley, MN 55124 USA A contribution of the IUCN/SSC Conservation Breeding Specialist Group, and the AZA Lizard Taxon Advisory Group. Cover Photo: Provided by Steve Reichling Hudson, R. A. Alberts, S. Ellis, 0. Byers. 1994. Conservation Assessment and Management Plan for lguanidae and Varanidae. IUCN/SSC Conservation Breeding Specialist Group: Apple Valley, MN. Additional copies of this publication can be ordered through the IUCN/SSC Conservation Breeding Specialist Group, 12101 Johnny Cake Ridge Road, Apple Valley, MN 55124. Send checks for US $35.00 (for printing and shipping costs) payable to CBSG; checks must be drawn on a US Banlc Funds may be wired to First Bank NA ABA No. 091000022, for credit to CBSG Account No. 1100 1210 1736. The work of the Conservation Breeding Specialist Group is made possible by generous contributions from the following members of the CBSG Institutional Conservation Council Conservators ($10,000 and above) Australasian Species Management Program Gladys Porter Zoo Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum Sponsors ($50-$249) Chicago Zoological
    [Show full text]
  • Fowlers Gap Biodiversity Checklist Reptiles
    Fowlers Gap Biodiversity Checklist ow if there are so many lizards then they should make tasty N meals for someone. Many of the lizard-eaters come from their Reptiles own kind, especially the snake-like legless lizards and the snakes themselves. The former are completely harmless to people but the latter should be left alone and assumed to be venomous. Even so it odern reptiles are at the most diverse in the tropics and the is quite safe to watch a snake from a distance but some like the Md rylands of the world. The Australian arid zone has some of the Mulga Snake can be curious and this could get a little most diverse reptile communities found anywhere. In and around a disconcerting! single tussock of spinifex in the western deserts you could find 18 species of lizards. Fowlers Gap does not have any spinifex but even he most common lizards that you will encounter are the large so you do not have to go far to see reptiles in the warmer weather. Tand ubiquitous Shingleback and Central Bearded Dragon. The diversity here is as astonishing as anywhere. Imagine finding six They both have a tendency to use roads for passage, warming up or species of geckos ranging from 50-85 mm long, all within the same for display. So please slow your vehicle down and then take evasive genus. Or think about a similar diversity of striped skinks from 45-75 action to spare them from becoming a road casualty. The mm long! How do all these lizards make a living in such a dry and Shingleback is often seen alone but actually is monogamous and seemingly unproductive landscape? pairs for life.
    [Show full text]
  • Level 2 Fauna Survey.Pdf
    Fauna Survey (Level 2) Phase 1 (September 2016) and Phase 2 (April 2017) Lake Wells Potash Project Australian Potash Ltd September 2017 Report Number: 01-000017-1/2 VERSION 4 On behalf of: Australian Potash Limited PO Box 1941 WEST PERTH, WA 6872 Prepared by: Greg Harewood Zoologist PO Box 755 BUNBURY WA 6231 M: 0402 141 197 E: [email protected] LAKE WELLS POTASH PROJECT – AUSTRALIAN POTASH LTD – L2 FAUNA SURVEY - PHASE 1 & 2 – SEPTEMBER 2017 – V4 TABLE OF CONTENTS SUMMARY .............................................................................................................. III 1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................... 1 1.1 BACKGROUND ................................................................................................ 1 1.2 SURVEY AREA ................................................................................................. 1 1.3 SURVEY SCOPE .............................................................................................. 1 2. METHODS ........................................................................................................ 3 2.1 FAUNA INVENTORY - LITERATURE REVIEW ............................................... 3 2.1.1 Database Searches .................................................................................................................. 3 2.1.2 Previous Fauna Surveys in the Area ........................................................................................ 3 2.2 FAUNA INVENTORY – DETAILED
    [Show full text]
  • Habitat Types
    Habitat Types The following section features ten predominant habitat types on the West Coast of the Eyre Peninsula, South Australia. It provides a description of each habitat type and the native plant and fauna species that commonly occur there. The fauna species lists in this section are not limited to the species included in this publication and include other coastal fauna species. Fauna species included in this publication are printed in bold. Information is also provided on specific threats and reference sites for each habitat type. The habitat types presented are generally either characteristic of high-energy exposed coastline or low-energy sheltered coastline. Open sandy beaches, non-vegetated dunefields, coastal cliffs and cliff tops are all typically found along high energy, exposed coastline, while mangroves, sand flats and saltmarsh/samphire are characteristic of low energy, sheltered coastline. Habitat Types Coastal Dune Shrublands NATURAL DISTRIBUTION shrublands of larger vegetation occur on more stable dunes and Found throughout the coastal environment, from low beachfront cliff-top dunes with deep stable sand. Most large dune shrublands locations to elevated clifftops, wherever sand can accumulate. will be composed of a mosaic of transitional vegetation patches ranging from bare sand to dense shrub cover. DESCRIPTION This habitat type is associated with sandy coastal dunes occurring The understory generally consists of moderate to high diversity of along exposed and sometimes more sheltered coastline. Dunes are low shrubs, sedges and groundcovers. Understory diversity is often created by the deposition of dry sand particles from the beach by driven by the position and aspect of the dune slope.
    [Show full text]
  • The Revised Classification of Eukaryotes
    See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/231610049 The Revised Classification of Eukaryotes Article in Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology · September 2012 DOI: 10.1111/j.1550-7408.2012.00644.x · Source: PubMed CITATIONS READS 961 2,825 25 authors, including: Sina M Adl Alastair Simpson University of Saskatchewan Dalhousie University 118 PUBLICATIONS 8,522 CITATIONS 264 PUBLICATIONS 10,739 CITATIONS SEE PROFILE SEE PROFILE Christopher E Lane David Bass University of Rhode Island Natural History Museum, London 82 PUBLICATIONS 6,233 CITATIONS 464 PUBLICATIONS 7,765 CITATIONS SEE PROFILE SEE PROFILE Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects: Biodiversity and ecology of soil taste amoeba View project Predator control of diversity View project All content following this page was uploaded by Smirnov Alexey on 25 October 2017. The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file. The Journal of Published by the International Society of Eukaryotic Microbiology Protistologists J. Eukaryot. Microbiol., 59(5), 2012 pp. 429–493 © 2012 The Author(s) Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology © 2012 International Society of Protistologists DOI: 10.1111/j.1550-7408.2012.00644.x The Revised Classification of Eukaryotes SINA M. ADL,a,b ALASTAIR G. B. SIMPSON,b CHRISTOPHER E. LANE,c JULIUS LUKESˇ,d DAVID BASS,e SAMUEL S. BOWSER,f MATTHEW W. BROWN,g FABIEN BURKI,h MICAH DUNTHORN,i VLADIMIR HAMPL,j AARON HEISS,b MONA HOPPENRATH,k ENRIQUE LARA,l LINE LE GALL,m DENIS H. LYNN,n,1 HILARY MCMANUS,o EDWARD A. D.
    [Show full text]
  • Pirra Jungku Project Species Guide
    The Pirra Jungku Project is a collaboration between the Karajarri Rangers, Environs Kimberley Pirra Jungku Project and the Threatened Species Recovery Hub with funding from the Australian Government’s National Environmental Science Program and the species guide Western Australian Government’s NRM Program. Reptiles * Asterix means the animal can be tricky to ID. Take a good photo, or bring it back to camp for checking, but do this as a last resort. Don’t bring back any snakes, in case they are poisonous. Dragons Upright posture (stick their heads up), have small, rough scales, each leg has 5 clawed fingers/toes. MATT FROM MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA CC BY 2.0 WIKIMEDIA COMMONS JESSSARAH MILLER LEGGE Slater’s ring-tailed dragon Central military dragon (Ctenophorus slaterii) (Ctenophorus isolepis) Rocky country. Reddish colour with black Sandy country. Very fast on ground. spots on back and dark rings on the tail. Reddish colour with white spots and stripes. JESSCHRISTOPHER MILLER WATSON CC BY SA 3.0 WIKIMEDIA COMMONS ARTHUR CHAPMAN NICOLAS RAKOTOPARE Pindan dragon Horner’s dragon Northern Pilbara tree dragon (Diporiphora pindan) (Lophognathus horneri) (Diporiphora vescus) Thin, slender body. Two long white stripes Ta-ta lizard. White stripe from lip to back legs. Lives in spinifex. Plain colour, sometimes down back that cross over black and orange Tiny white spot in ear. with orange tail, and long white and grey tiger stripes.* stripes down body.* CHRISTOPHERSARAH LEGGE WATSON CC BY SA 3.0 WIKIMEDIA COMMONS Dwarf bearded dragon (Pogona minor) Grey with flat body with spiny edges. Has small spines on either side of the jaw and on the back of the head.
    [Show full text]
  • Reptile Clinical Pathology Vickie Joseph, DVM, DABVP (Avian)
    Reptile Clinical Pathology Vickie Joseph, DVM, DABVP (Avian) Session #121 Affiliation: From the Bird & Pet Clinic of Roseville, 3985 Foothills Blvd. Roseville, CA 95747, USA and IDEXX Laboratories, 2825 KOVR Drive, West Sacramento, CA 95605, USA. Abstract: Hematology and chemistry values of the reptile may be influenced by extrinsic and intrinsic factors. Proper processing of the blood sample is imperative to preserve cell morphology and limit sample artifacts. Identifying the abnormal changes in the hemogram and biochemistries associated with anemia, hemoparasites, septicemias and neoplastic disorders will aid in the prognostic and therapeutic decisions. Introduction Evaluating the reptile hemogram is challenging. Extrinsic factors (season, temperature, habitat, diet, disease, stress, venipuncture site) and intrinsic factors (species, gender, age, physiologic status) will affect the hemogram numbers, distribution of the leukocytes and the reptile’s response to disease. Certain procedures should be ad- hered to when drawing and processing the blood sample to preserve cell morphology and limit sample artifact. The goal of this paper is to briefly review reptile red blood cell and white blood cell identification, normal cell morphology and terminology. A detailed explanation of abnormal changes seen in the hemogram and biochem- istries in response to anemia, hemoparasites, septicemias and neoplasia will be addressed. Hematology and Chemistries Blood collection and preparation Although it is not the scope of this paper to address sites of blood collection and sample preparation, a few im- portant points need to be explained. For best results to preserve cell morphology and decrease sample artifacts, hematologic testing should be performed as soon as possible following blood collection.
    [Show full text]