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1
Stockley, Victoria R., Anna Wilkinson, and Oliver H. P. Burman. "How to Handle Your Dragon: Does Handling Duration Affect the Behaviour of Bearded Dragons (Pogona Vitticeps)?" Animals 10, no. 11 (November 15, 2020): 2116. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani10112116.
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Reptiles are popular as pets and it is, therefore, important to understand how different aspects of housing and husbandry impact on their behaviour and welfare. One potential cause of stress in captive reptiles is interaction with humans; in particular, the effect of handling. However, little research on handling has been carried out with reptiles, particularly relating to the type of gentle handling likely to be experienced by pet animals. The aim of this study was therefore to determine whether the amount of time that bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps), a commonly kept pet species, experienced gentle handling induced no or differing levels of anxiety, as reflected in their subsequent behavioural response to novelty. We found that there appeared to be a mildly aversive effect of handling time on subsequent behavioural response to novelty. Longer durations of handling (5 min or 15 min) appeared to increase anxiety-related behaviour, with handled animals showing more frequent tongue flicking behaviour when they experienced a novel environment and reduced time spent in close proximity to a novel object. These results suggest that handling bearded dragons, even in a gentle way, may increase their anxiety. However, it is not yet known whether animals may habituate to handling for longer periods if provided with additional experience.
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Valdez, Jose W. "Using Google Trends to Determine Current, Past, and Future Trends in the Reptile Pet Trade." Animals 11, no. 3 (March 3, 2021): 676. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani11030676.
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Reptiles are one of the most popular exotic pets in the world, with over a third of all described species currently being traded. However, the most commonly available reptiles are typically non-threatened, captive-bred, and/or domestically obtained, which means they are also largely unregulated and unmonitored, resulting in a large portion of the reptile pet trade remaining unknown. In this study, the past, current, and future trends of the most popular reptiles in the pet trade were examined. Google Trends was used to determine the global popularity of the most popular pets from 2004 to 2020 and compared to the results from an online survey sent to individuals involved in the reptile trade. The most popular pets from the previous five years were also compared globally across regions and countries. The results determined that the most popular reptile species during the last decade is by far bearded dragons, followed by ball pythons and leopard geckos. Although the survey results were similar when asked what the top reptiles were, most respondents named ball pythons as the most popular reptile. However, when asked what reptiles had lost the most popularity during the previous decade, the survey respondents named green iguanas, Burmese pythons, chameleons, red-eared sliders, and green anoles, concurring with what was found with Google Trends. The reptiles thought to be more popular in the upcoming decade by the survey participants were blue-tongued skinks, tegus, uromastyx, crested geckos, and ball pythons—most of which did indeed show an increase in popularity during the last decade, as indicated with Google Trends. The results from Google Trends demonstrated that ball pythons and crested geckos have increased their popularity more than any other reptile in the last two decades. Reptile popularity also differed between countries, with bearded dragons the most popular reptile in Australia, Western Europe, the U.S., and Canada. Leopard geckos were the most popular reptile in Italy and Turkey, and ball pythons were the reptile of choice in Mexico, Indonesia, and India. The general finding of this study is that the reptiles declining in popularity were mostly wild-caught or restricted due to regulations, while current and future species were captive-bred and available in many varieties or morphs. The most popular species were also docile, medium-sized, and easy to handle, with relatively simple care requirements. This study demonstrates that Google Trends can be a useful tool for determining relative popularity among reptiles, or any other pet group, with results closely mirroring those obtained through direct surveying of people involved in the pet trade. However, unlike surveys, this analysis is quick, quantifiable, and can show what is popular and in-demand not only at the global level but at much finer scales. Thus, Google Trends can be a valuable tool in many research applications, especially in topics that may otherwise be difficult to monitor and quantify.
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Schmidt, Volker, Linus Klasen, Juliane Schneider, Jens Hübel, and Michael Pees. "Characterization of Metarhizium viride Mycosis in Veiled Chameleons (Chamaeleo calyptratus), Panther Chameleons (Furcifer pardalis), and Inland Bearded Dragons (Pogona vitticeps)." Journal of Clinical Microbiology 55, no. 3 (December 21, 2016): 832–43. http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/jcm.02206-16.
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ABSTRACT Metarhizium viride has been associated with fatal systemic mycoses in chameleons, but subsequent data on mycoses caused by this fungus in reptiles are lacking. The aim of this investigation was therefore to obtain information on the presence of M. viride in reptiles kept as pets in captivity and its association with clinical signs and pathological findings as well as improvement of diagnostic procedures. Beside 18S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) (small subunit [SSU]) and internal transcribed spacer region 1 (ITS-1), a fragment of the large subunit (LSU) of 28S rDNA, including domain 1 (D1) and D2, was sequenced for the identification of the fungus and phylogenetic analysis. Cultural isolation and histopathological examinations as well as the pattern of antifungal drug resistance, determined by using agar diffusion testing, were additionally used for comparison of the isolates. In total, 20 isolates from eight inland bearded dragons ( Pogona vitticeps ), six veiled chameleons ( Chamaeleo calyptratus ), and six panther chameleons ( Furcifer pardalis ) were examined. Most of the lizards suffered from fungal glossitis, stomatitis, and pharyngitis or died due to visceral mycosis. Treatment with different antifungal drugs according to resistance patterns in all three different lizard species was unsuccessful. Sequence analysis resulted in four different genotypes of M. viride based on differences in the LSU fragment, whereas the SSU and ITS-1 were identical in all isolates. Sequence analysis of the SSU fragment revealed the first presentation of a valid large fragment of the SSU of M. viride . According to statistical analysis, genotypes did not correlate with differences in pathogenicity, antifungal susceptibility, or species specificity.
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Chang, Wei-Shan, Ci-Xiu Li, Jane Hall, John-Sebastian Eden, Timothy H. Hyndman, Edward C. Holmes, and Karrie Rose. "Meta-Transcriptomic Discovery of a Divergent Circovirus and a Chaphamaparvovirus in Captive Reptiles with Proliferative Respiratory Syndrome." Viruses 12, no. 10 (September 25, 2020): 1073. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/v12101073.
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Viral pathogens are being increasingly described in association with mass morbidity and mortality events in reptiles. However, our knowledge of reptile viruses remains limited. Herein, we describe the meta-transcriptomic investigation of a mass morbidity and mortality event in a colony of central bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps) in 2014. Severe, extensive proliferation of the respiratory epithelium was consistently found in affected dragons. Similar proliferative lung lesions were identified in bearded dragons from the same colony in 2020 in association with increased intermittent mortality. Total RNA sequencing identified two divergent DNA viruses: a reptile-infecting circovirus, denoted bearded dragon circovirus (BDCV), and the first exogeneous reptilian chaphamaparvovirus—bearded dragon chaphamaparvovirus (BDchPV). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that BDCV was most closely related to bat-associated circoviruses, exhibiting 70% amino acid sequence identity in the Replicase (Rep) protein. In contrast, in the nonstructural (NS) protein, the newly discovered BDchPV showed approximately 31%–35% identity to parvoviruses obtained from tilapia fish and crocodiles in China. Subsequent specific PCR assays revealed BDCV and BDchPV in both diseased and apparently normal captive reptiles, although only BDCV was found in those animals with proliferative pulmonary lesions and respiratory disease. This study expands our understanding of viral diversity in captive reptiles.
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Renfert, Kevin, Wolfgang Rabsch, Angelika Fruth, Stephanie Speck, and Michael Pees. "The use of a salmonella bacteriophage in bearded dragons: application, passage time and reisolation." Tierärztliche Praxis Ausgabe K: Kleintiere / Heimtiere 47, no. 04 (August 2019): 247–56. http://dx.doi.org/10.1055/a-0959-5528.
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Abstract Objective This study determined the passage time and phage propagation time of a salmonella specific phage, Felix O1, in bearded dragons, based on reisolation from cloacal swabs and faecal samples following oral administration, as a possible tool for reducing the zoonotic risk of salmonella from pet reptiles. An application scheme for this phage in bearded dragons was developed. Material and methods Ten healthy bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps) were used in the study. The pH tolerance of the phage was tested and drugs were used to evaluate their influence on the gastric pH of the reptiles. After pH adjustment, the phage was administered orally for 12 consecutive days. Over 60 days, swabs were taken from the cloaca and examined for the presence of phages using culture and PCR. Furthermore, faecal samples were collected for phage quantification. Results Felix O1 displayed no activity at pH below 2.8. A calcium- and magnesium carbonate buffer induced an appropriate gastric pH increase for 30 minutes. Phages were reisolated for up to 24 days (mean shedding: 19 days) after last administration. Titres between 105 and 107 plaque forming units/g faeces were detected. The animals did not show any clinical signs related to phage application. Conclusion and clinical relevance The study provides first results on oral administration, passage time, and reisolation of a phage in reptiles. It could be shown that the phage was able to replicate in the intestine, and was shed for a prolonged period and therefore could potentially contribute to a reduction of salmonella shedding.
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Johnston, Sonya D., Sandra Orgeig, Olga V. Lopatko, and Christopher B. Daniels. "Development of the pulmonary surfactant system in two oviparous vertebrates." American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology 278, no. 2 (February 1, 2000): R486—R493. http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/ajpregu.2000.278.2.r486.
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In birds and oviparous reptiles, hatching is often a lengthy and exhausting process, which commences with pipping followed by lung clearance and pulmonary ventilation. We examined the composition of pulmonary surfactant in the developing lungs of the chicken, Gallus gallus, and of the bearded dragon, Pogona vitticeps. Lung tissue was collected from chicken embryos at days 14, 16, 18 (prepipped), and 20(postpipped) of incubation and from 1 day and 3 wk posthatch and adult animals. In chickens, surfactant protein A mRNA was detected using Northern blot analysis in lung tissue at all stages sampled, appearing relatively earlier in development compared with placental mammals. Chickens were lavaged at days 16, 18, and 20 of incubation and 1 day posthatch, whereas bearded dragons were lavaged at day 55, days 57–60 (postpipped), and days 58–61 (posthatched). In both species, total phospholipid (PL) from the lavage increased throughout incubation. Disaturated PL (DSP) was not measurable before 16 days of incubation in the chick embryo nor before 55 days in bearded dragons. However, the percentage of DSP/PL increased markedly throughout late development in both species. Because cholesterol (Chol) remained unchanged, the Chol/PL and Chol/DSP ratios decreased in both species. Thus the Chol and PL components are differentially regulated. The lizard surfactant system develops and matures over a relatively shorter time than that of birds and mammals. This probably reflects the highly precocial nature of hatchling reptiles.
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Monahan, Colleen F., Anne Meyer, Michael M. Garner, and Matti Kiupel. "Gross, histologic, and immunohistochemical characteristics of cutaneous chromatophoromas in captive bearded dragons." Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation 33, no. 5 (July 2, 2021): 932–38. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/10406387211025651.
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Chromatophoromas are neoplasms that develop from the dermal pigment-bearing and light-reflecting cells (chromatophores) in the skin of reptiles, fish, and amphibians. Seventeen cutaneous chromatophoromas were identified from 851 bearded dragon submissions (2%) to a private diagnostic laboratory in a 15-y period. No sex predilection was found. Ages ranged from 9 mo to 11 y. Chromatophoromas most commonly were single, raised, variably pigmented masses or pigmented scales on the trunk, and less commonly the extremities or head. Microscopically, iridophoromas, melanophoromas, mixed chromatophoromas, and nonpigmented chromatophoromas were identified. Neoplasms were often ulcerated and invaded deep into the subcutis and muscle. Most commonly, nuclear atypia was mild-to-moderate, and mitotic count was low. Six neoplasms had abundant, periodic acid-Schiff–positive, mucinous stroma. Histologic examination was often adequate to diagnose chromatophoromas in bearded dragons given that 11 of 17 had some degree of pigmentation, although it was often scant. IHC for S100 and PNL2 could be helpful to diagnose poorly pigmented neoplasms. No lymphatic invasion or metastases at the time of excision were noted in any of the cases. Follow-up data were available for 6 cases, with no reports of recurrence or neoplasia-related death. Two cases had elevated mitotic counts and nuclear pleomorphism, which has been associated with metastasis in other reports of bearded dragon chromatophoromas. In general, it appears that aggressive surgical excision is often curative, but monitoring may be warranted for cases in which tumors had high mitotic count and nuclear pleomorphism.
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Rooney, Tess, Alexandra K. Ford, Brandon L. Plattner, Margaret A. Highland, and David Eshar. "Pax5 and CD3 immunophenotyping of lymphoma in 2 central bearded dragons." Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation 34, no. 2 (March 2022): 258–62. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/10406387221078608.
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Two central bearded dragons ( Pogona vitticeps), a 3-y-old male and a 5-y-old female, were diagnosed with different manifestations of lymphoma at the Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory between 2019 and 2020. The 3-y-old male was presented for postmortem evaluation and was in poor body condition. Microscopically, nearly all examined organs contained variable numbers of neoplastic round cells. Neoplastic cells in the stomach and liver had moderate immunoreactivity to CD3 consistent with multicentric T-cell lymphoma, and non-neoplastic lymphocytes infiltrating the stomach mass had strong immunoreactivity to Pax5. The 5-y-old female had an ulcerated oral mass located in the right lingual gingiva submitted as an excisional biopsy. Microscopically, the mass was composed of large numbers of neoplastic round cells in the epithelium and connective tissue that were strongly and diffusely positive for CD3 and frequently positive for Pax5, consistent with a dual-positive, localized, epitheliotropic T-cell lymphoma. Neoplastic and non-neoplastic lymphocytes did not stain with CD20 or CD79a. Neoplasms are increasingly reported as a cause of morbidity and mortality in reptiles. Our 2 cases illustrate various presentations of T-cell lymphoma and the effectiveness of CD3 and Pax5 immunohistochemistry in bearded dragons.
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Jakab, Csaba, Miklós Rusvai, Zoltán Szabó, Péter Gálfi, Miklós Marosán, Janina Kulka, and János Gál. "Claudin-7-positive synchronous spontaneous intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, adenocarcinoma and adenomas of the gallbladder in a Bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps)." Acta Veterinaria Hungarica 59, no. 1 (March 1, 2011): 99–112. http://dx.doi.org/10.1556/avet.59.2011.1.9.
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In this study, synchronous spontaneous, independent liver and gallbladder tumours were detected in a Bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps). The multiple tumours consisted of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma as well as in situ adenocarcinoma and two adenomas of the gallbladder. The biliary epithelial cells and the cholangiocarcinoma showed membranous cross-immunoreactivity for claudin-7. The gallbladder epithelial cells, its adenoma and adenocarcinoma showed basolateral cross-reactivity for claudin-7. We think that the humanised anti-claudin-7 antibody is a good marker for the detection of different primary cholangiocellular and gallbladder tumours in Bearded dragons. The cholangiocytes, the cholangiocarcinoma, the endothelial cells of the liver and the epithelial cells and gallbladder tumours all showed claudin-5 cross-reactivity. The humanised anti-cytokeratin AE1–AE3 antibody showed cross-reactivity in the biliary epithelial cells, cholangiocarcinoma cells, epithelial cells and tumour cells of the gallbladder. It seems that this humanised antibody is a useful epithelial marker for the different neoplastic lesions of epithelial cells in reptiles. The humanised anti-α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) antibody showed intense cross-reactivity in the smooth muscle cells of the hepatic vessels and in the muscle layer of the gallbladder. The portal myofibroblasts, the endothelial cells of the sinusoids and the stromal cells of the cholangiocarcinoma and gallbladder tumours were positive for α-SMA. The antibovine anti-vimentin and humanised anti-Ki-67 antibodies did not show crossreactivity in the different samples from the Bearded dragon.
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Papp, Tibor, and Rachel E. Marschang. "Detection and Characterization of Invertebrate Iridoviruses Found in Reptiles and Prey Insects in Europe over the Past Two Decades." Viruses 11, no. 7 (July 2, 2019): 600. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/v11070600.
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Invertebrate iridoviruses (IIVs), while mostly described in a wide range of invertebrate hosts, have also been repeatedly detected in diagnostic samples from poikilothermic vertebrates including reptiles and amphibians. Since iridoviruses from invertebrate and vertebrate hosts differ strongly from one another based not only on host range but also on molecular characteristics, a series of molecular studies and bioassays were performed to characterize and compare IIVs from various hosts and evaluate their ability to infect a vertebrate host. Eight IIV isolates from reptilian and orthopteran hosts collected over a period of six years were partially sequenced. Comparison of eight genome portions (total over 14 kbp) showed that these were all very similar to one another and to an earlier described cricket IIV isolate, thus they were given the collective name lizard–cricket IV (Liz–CrIV). One isolate from a chameleon was also subjected to Illumina sequencing and almost the entire genomic sequence was obtained. Comparison of this longer genome sequence showed several differences to the most closely related IIV, Invertebrate iridovirus 6 (IIV6), the type species of the genus Iridovirus, including several deletions and possible recombination sites, as well as insertions of genes of non-iridoviral origin. Three isolates from vertebrate and invertebrate hosts were also used for comparative studies on pathogenicity in crickets (Gryllus bimaculatus) at 20 and 30 °C. Finally, the chameleon isolate used for the genome sequencing studies was also used in a transmission study with bearded dragons. The transmission studies showed large variability in virus replication and pathogenicity of the three tested viruses in crickets at the two temperatures. In the infection study with bearded dragons, lizards inoculated with a Liz–CrIV did not become ill, but the virus was detected in numerous tissues by qPCR and was also isolated in cell culture from several tissues. Highest viral loads were measured in the gastro-intestinal organs and in the skin. These studies demonstrate that Liz–CrIV circulates in the pet trade in Europe. This virus is capable of infecting both invertebrates and poikilothermic vertebrates, although its involvement in disease in the latter has not been proven.
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Woinarski, John C. Z., Sally L. South, Paul Drummond, Gregory R. Johnston, and Alex Nankivell. "The diet of the feral cat (Felis catus), red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and dog (Canis familiaris) over a three-year period at Witchelina Reserve, in arid South Australia." Australian Mammalogy 40, no. 2 (2018): 204. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/am17033.
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Introduced predators have had, and continue to have, severe impacts on Australian biodiversity. At a recently established conservation reserve, Witchelina, in arid South Australia, we assessed the diet of feral cats (Felis catus) (404 samples), red fox (Vulpes vulpes) (51 samples) and dog (Canis familiaris) (11 samples) over a 3-year period. There was marked overlap (98.5%) in dietary composition between cats and foxes. Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) comprised a major dietary item for all three predators. Invertebrates contributed the largest number of prey items for foxes and cats, but mammals comprised the bulk, by weight, for all three predators. Birds and reptiles had a higher frequency of occurrence in the diet of cats than of foxes or dogs. The size of mammal prey taken was least for cats and greatest for dogs. The diets of cats and foxes showed significant seasonal variation, with reptiles and invertebrates being least common in the diet in winter. The threatened thick-billed grasswren (Amytornis modestus) was found for the first time in the diet of feral cats. Bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps) occurred in about one-third of cat and fox samples. This study contributes further to the evidence of biodiversity impacts of introduced predators, and the need for their strategic management.
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Siviter, Harry, D. Charles Deeming, M. F. T. van Giezen, and Anna Wilkinson. "Incubation environment impacts the social cognition of adult lizards." Royal Society Open Science 4, no. 11 (November 2017): 170742. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsos.170742.
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Recent work exploring the relationship between early environmental conditions and cognition has shown that incubation environment can influence both brain anatomy and performance in simple operant tasks in young lizards. It is currently unknown how it impacts other, potentially more sophisticated, cognitive processes. Social-cognitive abilities, such as gaze following and social learning, are thought to be highly adaptive as they provide a short-cut to acquiring new information. Here, we investigated whether egg incubation temperature influenced two aspects of social cognition, gaze following and social learning in adult reptiles ( Pogona vitticeps ). Incubation temperature did not influence the gaze following ability of the bearded dragons; however, lizards incubated at colder temperatures were quicker at learning a social task and faster at completing that task. These results are the first to show that egg incubation temperature influences the social cognitive abilities of an oviparous reptile species and that it does so differentially depending on the task. Further, the results show that the effect of incubation environment was not ephemeral but lasted long into adulthood. It could thus have potential long-term effects on fitness.
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Kubiak, Marie, Daniela Denk, and Mark Frederick Stidworthy. "Retrospective review of neoplasms of captive lizards in the United Kingdom." Veterinary Record 186, no. 1 (September 25, 2019): 28. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/vr.105308.
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BackgroundNeoplasia has historically been regarded as an unusual occurrence in reptiles. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of neoplasms in routine diagnostic samples submitted to a specialist exotic animal laboratory.MethodsOver a 10-year period, 690 lizard samples were submitted for histopathological or cytopathological examination by Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons specialists in Veterinary Pathology (Zoo and Wildlife). Records were reviewed retrospectively and non-neoplastic diagnoses excluded from further analysis.Results158 neoplasms were diagnosed in 149 lizards, with 22.9% of submissions resulting in a diagnosis of neoplasia. The skin was the most commonly affected organ, and squamous cell carcinomas were the most common neoplasms identified (17.7% of all neoplastic diagnoses).Bearded dragons and panther chameleons had a statistically significant higher proportion of neoplasia diagnosis than the lizard population as a whole, and geckos had a statistically significantly lower proportion.Several neoplasms identified in this study have not been previously reported in lizards, including a testicular Sertoli cell tumour, testicular granulosa cell tumour, splenic haemangiosarcoma, gastric adenocarcinoma and basal cell carcinoma.ConclusionThe results suggest that the prevalence of neoplasia in captive lizards may be higher than previously reported, and that there is variation in prevalence between different lizard species and families. It is unclear whether these differences relate to genetic or management factors.
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Gomes, Ana Lia, Rui Patrício, Fernanda Seixas, and João Filipe Requicha. "Cytologic Characterization of the Oral Cavity of the Inland Bearded Dragon (Pogona vitticeps)." Journal of Herpetological Medicine and Surgery, July 9, 2022. http://dx.doi.org/10.5818/jhms-d-21-00024.
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Information on the cytology of the oral cavity is necessary for the identification and correct evaluation of lesions in this anatomical region. In contrast to other species kept as pets, literature on this subject in reptiles is scarce. The main objective of this descriptive study was to evaluate the normal cytological characteristics of the oral cavity of inland bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps). This study evaluated 28 clinically healthy inland bearded dragons from private collections, including both juveniles and adult males and females. Two cytological oral samples were obtained from each animal, from the tongue and palate. After staining with modified Wright-Giemsa stain, slides were analyzed under an optical microscope. The slides were mostly hypocellular, with no evidence of microbiological overgrowth or inflammation, and showed mostly keratinized squamous cells, while basal epithelial cells were seldom observed. Occasionally, goblet cells were observed in tongue samples, but were rare in palate samples. The results of this study contribute to a better characterization of the normal oral mucosa of this species and are in accordance with the few previously published studies.
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Tarbert, Danielle K., Vishal D. Murthy, and David Sanchez-Migallon Guzman. "Neurological examination in healthy adult inland bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps)." Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, April 13, 2022, 1–11. http://dx.doi.org/10.2460/javma.20.12.0706.
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Abstract OBJECTIVE To evaluate neurological tests and expected results in inland bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps) and generate recommendations for bearded dragon–specific neurological examination. ANIMALS 26 healthy adult inland bearded dragons. PROCEDURES A complete neurological examination utilizing tests described in both mammals and reptiles was performed on each lizard, and test feasibility and outcome were recorded. RESULTS Tests with poor feasibility included oculocardiac reflex (successfully completed in 62% [16/26] of animals) and voluntary ambulation and swallowing by use of a food item (0% [0/26] of animals). Tests with outcomes considered abnormal in mammals but attributable to normal bearded dragon behavior included head position (head tilt present in 12% [3/26]) and head movement (head bob present in 4% [1/26]). Many tests had absent or inconsistent outcomes, including menace response (present in 19% [5/26]), proprioceptive positioning (present in 4% [1/26] in the thoracic limbs and 0% [0/26] in the pelvic limbs), vent reflex (present in 27% [7/26]), and myotatic reflexes (biceps present in 8% [2/26]; patellar, gastrocnemius, and triceps present in 0% [0/26]). Extensor postural thrust was absent in all successfully tested animals, but a novel reflex termed the caudal thoracic extensor reflex was noted instead in all observed animals (100% [21/21]). CLINICAL RELEVANCE Tests with poor feasibility or inconsistent outcomes should have low priority or be excluded from neurological examinations of inland bearded dragons. Normal behaviors should be considered for head position and movement. A bearded dragon–specific neurological examination protocol derived from these findings is described and recommended in order to decrease stress and improve neurolocalization.
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Vigneault, Annabelle, Stéphane Lair, Carolyn Gara-Boivin, Guy Beauchamp, and Claire Vergneau-Grosset. "Evaluation of the Safety of Multiple Intramuscular Doses of Ketoprofen in Bearded Dragons (Pogona vitticeps)." Journal of Herpetological Medicine and Surgery, February 3, 2022. http://dx.doi.org/10.5818/jhms-d-21-00030.
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Cyclooxygenase (COX) 1 has been shown to increase significantly in inflamed ophidian skin, and chelonian muscles. Non-selective COX-1 and COX-2 inhibitors, such as ketoprofen, could therefore reduce inflammation more effectively than preferential COX-2 inhibitors in reptiles. The objective of this study was to evaluate potential adverse effects of ketoprofen in bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps). Thirteen adult bearded dragons were divided into three groups receiving daily intramuscular injections for 14 days in a blinded randomized study design. Group 1 (n = 5) received saline, group 2 (n = 4) received ketoprofen at 2 mg/kg (diluted 1:10 with saline) and group 3 (n = 4) received ketoprofen at 20 mg/kg (undiluted). Biochemical values, fecal occult blood (FOB) tests and blood clotting time were assessed before and after the two-week treatment. Renal, digestive, hepatic and muscular histopathology was evaluated. Clinically, injection site reactions were noted in group 3 only (n = 1/4). No other clinical adverse effects were detected. No changes were detected in plasma biochemical values and clotting times before and after treatments, nor between control and treatment groups. No lesion associated with ketoprofen toxicity was detected on histologic examination of the kidney, liver and gastrointestinal tract. Lesions of muscular necrosis at the injection sites were of higher magnitude in group 3 compared to group 1. In conclusion, daily intramuscular administration of diluted ketoprofen at 2 mg/kg for 14 days did not cause adverse effects in a small number of bearded dragons, while severe muscular necrosis was detected at 20 mg/kg.
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Sakich, Nicholas B., and Glenn J. Tattersall. "Bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps) with reduced scalation lose water faster but do not have substantially different thermal preferences." Journal of Experimental Biology 224, no. 12 (June 15, 2021). http://dx.doi.org/10.1242/jeb.234427.
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ABSTRACT Whether scales reduce cutaneous evaporative water loss in lepidosaur reptiles (Superorder Lepidosauria) such as lizards and snakes has been a contentious issue for nearly half a century. Furthermore, while many studies have looked at whether dehydration affects thermal preference in lepidosaurs, far fewer have examined whether normally hydrated lepidosaurs can assess their instantaneous rate of evaporative water loss and adjust their thermal preference to compensate in an adaptive manner. We tested both of these hypotheses using three captive-bred phenotypes of bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps) sourced from the pet trade: ‘wild-types’ with normal scalation, ‘leatherbacks’ exhibiting scales of reduced prominence, and scaleless bearded dragons referred to as ‘silkbacks’. Silkbacks on average lost water evaporatively at about twice the rate that wild-types did. Leatherbacks on average were closer in their rates of evaporative water loss to silkbacks than they were to wild-types. Additionally, very small (at most ∼1°C) differences in thermal preference existed between the three phenotypes that were not statistically significant. This suggests a lack of plasticity in thermal preference in response to an increase in the rate of evaporative water loss, and may be reflective of a thermal ‘strategy’ as employed by thermoregulating bearded dragons that prioritises immediate thermal benefits over the threat of future dehydration. The results of this study bolster an often-discounted hypothesis regarding the present adaptive function of scales and have implications for the applied fields of animal welfare and conservation.
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Littman, Eric M., Kyra J. Berg, Robyn N. Goldberg, David Sanchez-Migallon Guzman, David Sanchez-Migallon Guzman, and Small Mammal. "Endoscope-Guided Marble Foreign Body Removal Technique in an Inland Bearded Dragon (Pogona vitticeps)." Journal of Herpetological Medicine and Surgery, August 26, 2022. http://dx.doi.org/10.5818/jhms-d-22-00001.
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A 1-year-old intact female inland bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps) was presented approximately 24 hours following observed ingestion of a marble. Orthogonal whole-body radiographs with and without contrast revealed a spherical radiopaque foreign body within the gastric lumen and no passage of contrast material beyond the foreign body, suggestive of pyloric outflow obstruction. The CBC showed mild basophilia, and plasma biochemical analysis revealed a moderately elevated creatine kinase. The bearded dragon was placed under general anesthesia, and a rigid endoscope was utilized to visualize the foreign body at the level of the pylorus. The marble foreign body was suctioned and removed orally using a red rubber catheter and a Luer-lock syringe. The patient recovered uneventfully from the procedure and was sent home after two days of hospitalization with sucralfate and omeprazole. This report provides a novel, non-surgical method for removing smooth spherical foreign bodies from the proximal gastrointestinal tract of bearded dragons. The technique may apply to various small to medium-sized reptiles or amphibians that present with spherical foreign bodies.
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Pahuja, Harsh Kirpal, and Edward Jitik Narayan. "Reactive scope model and emergency life history stage provide useful tools for evaluating the stress responses of native Australian lizards living in disturbed landscapes." Conservation Physiology 9, no. 1 (January 1, 2021). http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/conphys/coab097.
Full textAbstract:
Abstract Glucocorticoids (GCs) are used as biomarkers of physiological stress response in reptiles. Fundamental stress physiology tools including the emergency life history stage (ELHS) and the reactive scope model (RSM) can be useful to determine how individual variation of stress responses shape population ecology. In this perspective, we applied the RSM and ELHS into the context of two urban-dwelling small native Australian reptile species to compare the stress-response patterns in short- and long-breeding lizards. Firstly, by drawing inferences from the ELHS, we presented hypothetical scenarios using sample GC data for a short-breeding species (e.g. common blue-tongue lizard). We showed that activation of the physiological stress response would be non-adaptive due to the consequences of stress on reproduction. Therefore, blue-tongue lizards may become exposed to acute and chronic environmental stressors (e.g. human disturbance and habitat clearance) during the breeding season as they prefer not to activate their hypothalamo-pituitary interrenal (HPI) axis in support of their short-breeding season. On the contrary, long-breeding lizards (e.g. bearded dragons), which have multiple breeding opportunities and are accustomed to living around humans and altered urban environments, tended to operate above the critical adaptive value of the ELHS during their breeding period. This suggests that any future changes to the dynamics of habitat availability and breeding opportunities may favour the dragon differently over the blue-tongue lizard. To further capture the dynamics of stress responses along spatial and temporal scales, we suggested that researchers should collect field data (e.g. blood plasma or faecal GCs) and then use the ELHS and RSM to understand how the environment is shaping the animal’s stress physiology. The application of field stress monitoring and data visualization using the ELHS and RSM could guide environmental monitoring and conservation programs of native wildlife species.