Treat Exotis Reptiles Lower respiratory tract disease
ISSN 2398-2985      

Lower respiratory tract disease

J  reptile
Contributor(s):

Tariq Abou-Zahr

Yvette Rowntree

Synonym(s): RI, Pneumonia, Lower respiratory infections

Introduction

  • Cause: infectious (eg bacterial, viral, fungal or parasitic), and non-infectious (eg trauma, foreign bodies, neoplasia) causes.
  • Signs: depend on cause.
  • Diagnosis: hematology and biochemistry, diagnostic imaging, endoscopy, virology, bacterial and fungal cultures, parasitology, cytology and histopathology.
  • Treatment: systemic antibiotic and antifungal medications, nebulization, mucolytics, coupage, correction of underlying predisposing causes (particularly husbandry issues), maintenance at the upper end of the preferred optimum temperature zone.
  • Prognosis: fair to guarded depending on cause. In the case of viral and neoplastic disease, prognosis is often extremely guarded.
Print off the Owner Factsheets on It's an emergency, Respiratory conditions in chameleons, Respiratory conditions in geckos, Respiratory conditions in lizards, Respiratory conditions in snakes, Respiratory conditions in terrapins and/or Respiratory conditions in tortoises to give to your clients.

 

Pathogenesis

Predisposing factors

General

  • Repties have a poor mucociliary clearance capability and are unable to truly cough due to the lack of a diaphragm.
  • Immunosuppression due to husbandry deficiencies, malnutrition, concurrent disease processes or treatment with corticosteroids.
  • The breeding season is often a time of stress for snakes, particularly when being cooled dramatically, or bred very frequently.
  • Poor hygiene within the vivarium.
  • Excessive humidity within the vivarium.
  • Inadequate ventilation within the vivarium.
  • Poor biosecurity/quarantine practices Quarantine.
  • Failure to carry out routine parasitic or viral screening.
  • Maintaining an open collection.
  • Snake mites: these may act as vectors for the spread of viral diseases.
  • Wild caught animals are predisposed to endoparisitism, including pentastomids and lung worms Chelonia parasitology overview Lizard parasitology overview Snake parasitology overview.
  • Animals kept at high stocking densities, eg farmed chelonia.
  • Respiratory irritants, eg the use of cedar or pine substrates.
  • Smoke inhalation.

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.
  • Hoon-Hanks L L, Layton M L, Ossiboff R J et al (2018) Respiratory disease in ball pythons experimentally infected with ball python nidovirus. Virology 517, 77-87 PubMed.
  • Ebani V V (2017) Domestic reptiles as source of zoonotic bacteria: a mini review. Asian Pac J Tropical Med 10 (8), 723-728 PubMed.
  • Stenglein M D, Jacobson E R, Wozniac E J et al (2014) Ball python Nidovirus: a candidate etiologic agent for severe respiratory disease in python regius. Mbio 5 (5), e01484-14 PubMed.
  • Origgi F (2012) Testudinid herpesviruses: a review. J Herpetol Med Surg 22 (1-2), 42-54 VetMedResource.
  • Schumacher J (2011) Respiratory medicine of reptiles. Vet Clin North Am 14 (2), 207-224 VetMedResource.
  • Myers D A, Wellehan J F Jr & Isaza R (2009) Saccular lung cannulation in a ball python (Python regius) to treat a tracheal obstruction. J Zoo Wildl Med 40 (1), 214-216 PubMed.
  • Drew M L, Phalen D N, Berridge B R et al (1999) Partial tracheal obstruction due to chondromas in ball pythons (Python regius). J Zoo Wildl Med 30 (1), 151-157 PubMed.
  • Diethelm G, Stauber E, Tillson M et al (1996) Tracheal resection and anastomosis for an intratracheal chondroma in a ball python. JAVMA 209 (4), 786-788 PubMed.

Other sources of information

  • Beaufrère H, Summa N & Le K (2016) Respiratory System. In: Current Therapy in Exotic Pet Practice. Eds: Mitchell M A & Tully T N Jr. Elsevier Saunders, USA. pp 76-151.
  • Carpenter J, Klaphake E & Gibbons P (2013) Reptile formulary and laboratory normals. In: Current Therapy in Reptile Medicine and Surgery. Eds: Mader D & Divers S. Elsevier Saunders, USA. pp 382-410.
  • Pare J (2013) Update on Fungal Infections in Reptiles. In: Current Therapy in Reptile Medicine and Surgery. Eds: Mader D & Divers S. Elsevier Saunders, USA. pp 53-56.
  • Schneller P & Pantchev N (2008) Specific Parasitology in Snakes, Lizards and Chelonians. In: Parasitology in Snakes, Lizards and Chelonians a Husbandry Guide. Eds: Schneller P & Pantchev N. Edition Chimaira. pp 38-66.
  • Boyer T (2006) Hypovitaminosis A and Hypervitaminosis A. In: Reptile Medicine and Surgery. 2nd edn. Ed: Mader D. Elsevier Saunders, USA. pp 831-835.
  • Mader D (2006) Gout. In: Reptile Medicine and Surgery. 2nd edn. Elsevier Saunders, USA. pp 793-800.
  • Murray M J (2006) Cardiopulmonary Anatomy and Physiology. In: Reptile Medicine and Surgery. 2nd edn. Ed: Mader D. Elsevier Saunders, USA. pp 124-134.
  • Hernandez-Divers S (2005) Diagnostic Techniques. In: Reptile Medicine and Surgery. 2nd edn. Ed: Mader D. Elsevier Saunders, USA. pp 490-532.

Further Information 

Organisation(s)

  • British Veterinary Zoological Society (BVZS). Website: www.bvzs.org.
  • Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians (ARAV). Website: https://arav.org.

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