Between 2015 and 2016, 16 adult Solomon Island leaf frogs ( Ceratobatrachus guentheri ) were evaluated at a zoological institution for proliferative epidermal lesions on the head, and occasionally the dorsum and limbs. In most cases, the lesions were severe enough that they could not be surgically resected. Five frogs were diagnosed histologically with proliferative epidermal lesions consistent with squamous cell carcinoma. Polymerase chain reaction for herpesvirus, papillomavirus, and chytridiomycosis yielded negative results. Transmission electron microscopy and virus isolation of two masses did not identify a virus. Although no specific etiology could be identified, based on the clinical presentation, the number of animals affected, and the negative test results for viral agents, an environmental, husbandry, or genetic component were considered as possible etiologies.

An 8-yr-old male bearded dragon ( Pogona vitticeps ) was presented for evaluation of a mass involving the right eyelid. The mass was surgically removed in conjunction with enucleation of the right eye. Tissues were submitted for histopathology, which revealed that the eyelid mass was a squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). A review of the records from two separate zoological pathology laboratories identified a total of 12 reports of SCC in bearded dragons; this represented 6% of the neoplasms documented in bearded dragons from the two laboratories over a 10 yr period. Nine (75%) of the 12 SCCs were located in the eyelids or periocular tissues; one (8.3%) was located on the rostral mandible; one (8.3%) was located adjacent to the vent; and one (8.3%) was on the proximal right rear leg. These findings suggest a predilection of SCCs in bearded dragons in proximity to a mucocutaneous junction (11/12, 91.6%), particularly in the periocular tissues (9/12, 75%).

ABSTRACT This report describes adenovirus infections in nine colubrid snakes, including four com snakes, Elaphe gutatta ; three milk snakes, Lampropeltis triangulum ssp.; one bull snake, Pituophis catenifer sayi ; and one California kingsnake, Lampropeltis getulus californiae . Age ranged from neonate to 11 months, and average age was 5 months, although age was not known for one corn snake. Reported clinical signs included inappetence (seven), regurgitation (two), and coelomic distention (two). The only reported gross lesion was a small amount of fluid in the coelomic cavity of two snakes. Histologic examination was performed on five snakes, and characteristic large basophilic or amphophilic inclusions were seen in mucosal epithelial cells of the intestine (five), stomach (two), and esophagus (one), and in hepatocytes (two). The presence of inclusions was associated with enteritis (five), hepatic necrosis (two), and secondary bacterial septicemia associated with the gut lesions (three). Three snakes were emaciated or in suboptimal nutritional status by the time they died or were euthanized. Electron microscopy performed on intestinal, gastric, or hepatic tissue from five snakes identified adenovirus particles within intranuclear inclusions from each snake. Consensus polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing were used to identify two novel adenoviruses in the genus Atadenovirus from five snakes, including the bull snake, and four additional snakes from the same collections (one California kingsnake and three milk snakes). PCR amplification of frozen tissues had a much higher success rate than amplification of formalin-fixed tissues. This study shows diversity amongst adenoviruses of snakes, and further work to understand pathology and host/virus relationships of snake adenoviruses is indicated.

ABSTRACT Unilateral ovarian torsion was diagnosed in two unrelated iguanas based on gross and microscopic findings. Case No. 1 was an adult female green iguana, Iguana iguana , that died with severe egg retention and systemic bacterial infection with unilateral granulomatous oophoritis and a 360° clockwise torsion of the left ovary. Case No. 2 was a two year-old female rhinoceros iguana, Cyclura cornuta , that died after a seven day history of marked weakness, lethargy, anorexia and tremors, and had a 270° counterclockwise torsion in the right ovary with oophoritis and a coelomic serosanguineous effusion. This is believed to be the first report of ovarian torsion in iguanas, although follicular torsion has been recently documented in a green iguana.

ABSTRACT A subset of 12 Kirtland's snakes, Clonophis kirtlandii , that died at the Louisville Zoological Garden (Louisville, Kentucky) between 1998 and 2004 were evaluated by one pathology service due to a historic high prevalence of thyroid gland enlargement and mortality. Subjective enlargement of the thyroid (goiter) was noted at necropsy in eight of 12 cases, whereas microscopic thyroid lesions were observed in all 12 snakes. Ten of 12 cases also were noted to have pulmonary, coelomic, and intravascular proteinaceous fluid accumulation interpreted as a possible hyperviscosity-like condition. This is presumed to be secondary to metabolic derangements associated with the thyroid disease. Antemortem thyroid hormone testing and confirming and better characterizing the suspected hyperviscosity-like condition via hematologic evaluation and protein electrophoresis was not performed due to small patient size. No sex predilection was observed, and the range of time affected snakes were in captivity before death was 14 to 56 months. The high prevalence of goiter and thyroid disease may be due to suboptimal dietary iodine, other nutritionally deficiencies, exposure to goitrogenic substances, exposure to and bioaccumulation of endocrine-disrupting contaminants from the environment, genetic predisposition, or a combination. Supplementation with iodine was attempted in some snakes in various ways but was generally unsuccessful.

ABSTRACT A pituitary adenoma was diagnosed via histopathologic examination in an aged female Dumeril's ground boa, Acrantophis dumerili . The snake exhibited postural abnormalities, dull mentation, and poor muscle tone prior to death. Pituitary neoplasms appear to occur very rarely in reptiles, but may be underreported if the pituitary gland is not routinely examined. This report illustrates the importance of submitting the brain or entire head for microscopic evaluation.

ABSTRACT An adult male Geoffrey's side-necked turtle, Phrynops geoffroanus , was presented with a three-week history of anorexia. Metastatic mineralization was diagnosed based upon skin biopsies and radiography. Ultrasonography confirmed mineralization of the greater blood vessels and mucosal lining of the stomach. Histopathology demonstrated the presence of multiorgan inflammation, metastatic mineralization, renal tubular necrosis and chronic interstitial nephritis.

ABSTRACT Captive refugia for four species of plethodontid salamanders were established. Following this successful maintenance, two of the species presented with kyphosis. In one of these species (San Marcos salamander, Eurycea nana ), microsporidial organisms within the epaxial musculature were identified in post-mortem histopathology and confirmed by polymerase chain reaction rDNA sequence as most closely similar to Encephalitozoon helium . However, ultrastructural analysis and further rDNA sequencing suggested a new species of Pleistophora . In these affected individuals, the microsporidial infection produced kyphosis resulting from inflammation and fibrosis of the epaxial musculature to the parasite.

ABSTRACT Trauma of undetermined cause resulted in the massive injury, infection, and subsequent stranding of a juvenile green sea turtle, Chelonia mydas . With an initial calculated total leukocyte count of zero cells/μl and no mature circulating heterophils on the differential, the turtle was treated with antibiotics and recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, (hG-CSF, filgrastim), in an attempt to increase heterophil production and possibly activation. Three daily doses o f hG-CSF at 6.7 mcg/kg given subcutaneously resulted in a rapid increase in acidophilic progranulocytes, which subsequently declined over the next three days. A second regimen, consisting of a repeat of the first three-dose daily regimen followed by continued dosing every 48 hr for an additional nine days, maintained a white blood cell count of 11,600 – 24,700 cells/μl. Three weeks after initiating therapy, mature heterophils began to appear in the peripheral blood and the hG-CSF was discontinued. Finally, after the turtle was off all medications, a three-day regimen of hG-CSF at 6.7 mcg/kg resulted in marked increases in total leukocytes, heterophils, lymphocytes, and monocytes. In this case human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor appeared to be effective in reversing severe leukopenia in a green sea turtle when administered subcutaneously at 6.4 – 6.7 mcg/kg daily for three days then every other day until mature heterophils were observed.

ABSTRACT An adult, captive-born palm viper, Bothriechis marchi , was found dead in its enclosure. Histologically, there were eosinophilic intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies within epithelial cells in the stomach, intestine, lung, trachea, and esophagus. In addition, there were basophilic intranuclear inclusion bodies in mucosal epithelial cells lining the oral cavity and esophagus with multifocal subacute esophagitis and stomatitis. Electron microscopy of the intranuclear inclusion bodies revealed crystalline arrays of hexagonal, 65 - 68 nm, particles morphologically consistent with Adenovirus. This palm viper was diagnosed with inclusion body-like disease, as previously reported in palm vipers, with concurrent esophagitis and stomatitis due to infection with adenovirus-like particles.

ABSTRACT An adult male diamond python, Morelia spilota spilota , was presented with a history of anorexia and diarrhea for two months. Stomatitis and a caudal coelomic swelling were identified during physical examination. Gingival cytologic imprints stained with methylene blue revealed high numbers of lymphocytes. The hemogram demonstrated a leukocyte count of 235,000 cells/μL, consisting of 75% lymphocytes (176,250 cells/μL), most of which were primitive lymphoblasts. Plasma biochemical results showed hypoglycemia (8 mg/dl), hypophosphotemia (1.7 mg/dl), hyperuricemia (12.4 mg/dl) and hyperkalemia (6.8 mEq/L). The snake died 48 hr after admission to the hospital. The histopathologic diagnosis was multicentric lymphoma. Immunohistochemistry indicated the neoplastic cells were T-lymphocyte derived.