Quarantine

Recommended Health Care and Disease-Prevention Programs for Herds/Flocks of Exotic Animals

Preventative health care is an essential part of the ownership and veterinary management of exotic animals. This article provides an overview of the current recommendations for health care and disease-prevention programs for herds or flocks of exotic animals, specifically companion and aviary birds, backyard poultry; snakes, lizards, chelonians, and amphibians; rabbits, ferrets, and common exotic small mammals. Husbandry practices, disease screening suggestions and techniques, and vaccination strategies, where appropriate, are reviewed.

Evaluation of gastroscopic biopsy for diagnosis of Cryptosporidium sp. infection in snakes

Cryptosporidium sp. is a protozoal parasite that can cause hypertrophic gastritis, regurgitation, and chronic wasting in snakes. Diagnosis can be challenging because of intermittent shedding of the organism in the feces. The purpose of this study was to evaluate gastroscopic biopsy as a diagnostic method for Cryptosporidium sp. screening during an outbreak at the Oklahoma City Zoo. Twenty-two snakes were immobilized by chamber induction with an inhalant anesthetic. Gross lesions were seen in seven snakes and consisted of hyperemia, thickening of the gastric mucosa as observed by lack of rugal folds, and a cobblestoned appearance. Gastric biopsy was performed for histologic evaluation (n = 21). Hypertrophic gastritis with intralesional cryptosporidia was diagnosed in five animals. Eleven animals died or were euthanized and complete necropsy was used to evaluate diagnostic measurements of performance of gastric biopsy. Sensitivity for gastric biopsy was 71.4% and specificity was 100%. Gastroscopy appears to be a useful diagnostic method for Cryptosporidium infection in snakes and can help distinguish true infection from prey-based cryptosporidia seen in fecal samples.

Introducing reptiles into a captive collection: the role of the veterinarian

The successful introduction of reptiles into a captive collection depends on providing optimal husbandry and veterinary attention. An important role of the veterinarian in this process is the prevention of disease introduction, which may affect both the introduced and the resident animals. This review focuses on preventive veterinary medicine in reptiles, emphasising quarantine measures, disinfection and entry control for infectious agents. Agents discussed include those that are likely give rise to severe clinical problems on introduction into a collection of reptiles, or, in the case of Salmonella, those that pose a significant public health risk. Aetiology, clinical signs and diagnosis are discussed for the most relevant endo- and ectoparasites, bacteria and viruses including Cryptosporidium and Entamoeba, Salmonella, Dermabacter, Chlamydiales, Mycoplasma, Herpesvirus, Adenovirus, Paramyxovirus and inclusion body disease.