reptile - Articles
Retained spectacle
Introduction
- Cause: secondary to many underlying causes, eg suboptimal husbandry, nutrition, dehydration, low humidity, dysecdysis, mite infestation, skin infection, eye infection.
- Signs: raised plaque of retained tissue (often opaque) in the ocular area.
- Diagnosis: medical history and clinical examination. the underlying causes need to be investigated and addressed as well.
- Treatment: make and keep the spectacles soft and moist with water-solutble gels and increase humidity; bathe the reptile in warm water; if underlying causes are not addressed, it is likely to recur. Increased humidity at next ecdysis may promote a full shed with removal of the retained spectacles.
- Prognosis: depends on severity of presentation and if underlying cuase has been addressed. Generally good if treated at early stage.
Presenting signs
- Dull/opaque eye(s).
- Concurrent skin infection, irritation.
- Lethargy.
Acute presentation
- Dull opaque spectacle.
Species predisposition
- Reptiles that have spectacles.
- All species of snake.
- Some geckos.
- Some lizards.
Public health considerations
- Reptiles potentially carry Salmonella, therefore gloves should always be used when handling.
- Hygiene should be optimized at all times.
Cost considerations
- For mild presentation, costs are due to clinical examination and medical treatment.
- For severe cases, sedation and debridement might be necessary.
Pathogenesis
Etiology
- Spectacle retention is often seen as part of a more generalized dysecdysis where skin shedding is not complete [Ecdysis/dysecdysis]:
- The separation of newly regenerated and old epithelium in the skin scales, and the spectacle, relies on the generation of a fluid-filled delineation between the two layers.
- Dysecdysis and attendant spectacle retention may be associated with generalized poor health but more often than not the underlying problem is a husbandry deficit and particularly too low a humidity Chelonia husbandry Lizard husbandry Snake husbandry.
- Snake mite (Ophionyssus natricis) infestation [Acariasis]:
- This parasite itself undergoes several moults as it reaches adulthood.
- Between each of these it takes a blood meal to increase its body size and the easiest place to take such a meal is the space between the spectacle and the first periocular skin scale.
- Multiple punctures here cause inflammation, wound and scar tissue, and lead to spectacle retention.
Predisposing factors
General
- Suboptimal husbandry.
- Poor nutrition.
- Dehydration.
- Trauma.
- Infection.
- Systemic disease.
Specific
- Lack of proper substrate (nothing to rub on to remove skin).
- Improper handling or handling close to the time of shedding.
- Malnutrition.
- Infection of the eye or of the skin.
- Trauma.
- Systemic disease.
Pathophysiology
- Dysecdysis of the spectacles leads to build-up of skin layers which can lead to secondary infection and temporary reduced vision.
Timecourse
- Depends on how often the reptile sheds the skin; more frequent in younger animals than older animals.
Diagnosis
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Treatment
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Prevention
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Outcomes
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Further Reading
Publications
Refereed papers
- Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
- Da Silva M O, Bertelsen M F, Heegaard S et al (2015) Ophidian spectaculitis and spectacular dysecdysis: A histologic description. Vet Pathol 52 (6), 1220-1226 PubMed.
- Harkewicz K A (2002) Dermatologic problems of reptiles. Semin Avian Exotic Pet Med 11 (3), 151-161 SciDirect.
Other sources of information
- Doneley B, Johnson R, Monks D & Carmel B (2018) Diseases of the Organs of Special Senses. In: Reptile Medicine and Surgery in Clinical Practice. Wiley-blackwell. pp 357-368.
- Ward D (2013) Reptile and Amphibian Ophthalmology. In: Proc American Board of Veterinary Practitioners Conference.
- Williams D (2012) The Reptile Eye. In: Ophthalmology of Exotic Pets. Wiley-Blackwell, UK. pp 175-178.
- Finch N (2010) Basic Snake Medicine. In: Proc Western Veterinary Conference.