Introduction

• Cause: bacterial, viral, fungal (sometimes concurrently).
• Signs: dyspnea, increased respiratory rate, open-mouth breathing, increased abdominal effort, nasal discharge.
• Diagnosis: computed tomography, radiography, transtracheal lavage/percutaneous lung wash, endoscopy, hematology, biochemistry.
• Treatment: antimicrobials in cases of bacterial infection, nebulization, fluid/nutritional support.
• Prognosis: guarded to poor in advanced cases.

Pathogenesis

Etiology

• Bacterial, viral and fungal etiologies are seen (sometimes concurrently).
• Bacteria:
  • Mycoplasma, particularly common in chelonian.
  • Pseudomonas, Aeromonas, E. coli, Klebsiella, Proteus, Salmonella most commonly isolated.
• Viral:
  • Ferlavirus Ferlavirus infection is occasionally isolated in outbreaks of respiratory disease in snakes.
  • Herpes virus Herpes virus infection is common in chelonian.
  • Some snakes with arenavirus will present with respiratory disease.
• Fungal:
  • Rare and usually associated with poor husbandry, in particular low environmental temperature or excessive humidity.
• Parasitic:
  • Nematodes.
  • Metazoan parasite.
  • Trematodes.

Predisposing factors

General

• Husbandry deficiencies Chelonia husbandry Lizard husbandry Snake husbandry:
  • Chronically low temperature below POTZ leading to immunosuppression.
  • Excessive humidity.
  • Ectoparasitism (spread disease, in particular viral pathogens).
  • Any cause of stress, eg transport.
• Ineffective or absent quarantine Quarantine of new animals in a collection.
• Nutritional deficiency - hypovitaminosis A Hypovitaminosis A.

Pathophysiology

• Varies according to the pathogen involved.

Timecourse

• Varies according to the pathogen involved.

Epidemiology

• Varies according to the pathogen involved.

Diagnosis

Treatment

Prevention

Outcomes