engleski

Clinical signs and treatment of Devriesea agamarum associated infections in spiny-tailed lizards (Uromastyx sp.)

Bacterial skin infections in captive desert lizards most commonly occur secondary to traumatic injuries or burns, or may be caused by inadequate housing conditions. These infections are manifested in the form of chronic dermatitis, cheilitis or occasionally septicemia, often associated with the presence of coryneform bacteria either as causative or as complicating factors. These infections have been so far most commonly attributed to bacteria from the genus Dermabacter ; however, a new species called Devriesea agamarum was recently isolated, predominantly from skin lesions of spiny-tailed lizards (Uromastyx sp.). The most common symptoms include scaly changes around the mouth and cloaca, and over the dorsal part of the body. Sometimes septicemia can occur. Complications may include a swelling of the front limbs with the loss of toes. The disease is a highly contagious and it could easily be spread over the whole collection of animals in a short period of time. To confirm the diagnosis it is necessary to take skin scrapings from dermal changes and to incubate them on Columbia agar supplemented with 5% sheep blood under microaerophilic conditions at 37oC. After the growth of specific colonies antimicrobial susceptibility testing is suggested. Blood hematology is necessary to exclude the septicemia. Regarding the therapy ceftiofur at a dose of 5 mg/kg BW in 24-hour intervals for 18 days, or ceftazidime at a dose of 10 mg/kg BW every third day for 15 days are effective, along with the local rinsing with 0.1% chlorhexidine solution. Secondary complications like swellings should be treated surgically. It is also important to clean the animal’s environment to prevent the spreading of the disease to other animals. Since D. agamarum-associated infections were not so far reported outside Belgium, we wanted to describe the most common symptoms, diagnostics and the treatment of this relatively unknown infection, to increase the knowledge about this contagious disease.

lizards; skin infection; bacteria

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