[Ultrasonic studies in reptiles]. / Ultraschalluntersuchung bei Reptilien.

Ultrasonography in reptiles is a safe, noninvasive repeatable diagnostic imagine method. Size, volume and inner structure of organs can easily be determined. Based on 460 ultrasonographic examinations in 8 species of terrapins, 12 species of snakes and 22 species of lizard normal appearance of heart, gonads, fat bodies, kidneys, bladder and gastrointestinal tract are described. Pathological findings are explained in details using examples.

[Anesthesia and immobilization in reptiles]. / Narkose und Immobilisation bei Reptilien.

In reptiles anesthesia is recommended not only for painful treatment but also for diagnostic procedures like radiology, sonography, endoscopy and MRI. Special attention should be directed to the anesthetic regimen because of anatomical and physiological differences to mammals. To achieve optimum body temperature (normally 25-30 degrees C) preanesthetic heating is useful. In most cases ketamine hydrochloride is used as an injectable anesthetic. Our own anesthesias (n = 263) are compared to those in the literature. Important disadvantages are species-specific dosages between 15 and 220 mg/kg body weight and poor relaxation. The results of 132 anesthesias performed by the authors using Isoflurane are discussed with reference to the literature. The main advantages were independence of species-specific problems and excellent analgesia and relaxation. Due to total relaxation, manual intermittent positive-pressure ventilation (IPPV) is necessary.

[The radiologic differential diagnosis in girth increase of the gastric cavity and the body in lizards (Squamata: Sauria)]. / Zur röntgenologischen Differentialdiagnose bei Umfangsvermehrungen der Leibeshöhle bzw. des Rumpfes bei Echsen (Squamata: Sauria).

The extended girth is one of the few important and obvious symptoms in lizards (Sauria). Radiological examination proved to be the most important method in the clinical diagnostic procedure. Standard and contrast images using oral and cloacal application of barium sulphate or iodophoric contrast media were frequently indicated. Based on 442 X-rays from 162 lizards out of 20 genus the significant radiological, physiological and pathological findings are described. Frequent findings were dystocia in oviparous and viviparous lizards (18.5%), gastritis and enteritis (12.3%), ascites (9.3%), fractures of the spine and osteodystrophia (9.3%), obstipation (6.2%), foreign bodies (4.9%), neoplasia (4.3%) and enteroliths (4.3%). Pneumonia (3.7%), was as frequent as the physiological lung tympany (3.7%). Pregnancy was the most frequent physiological finding (8%). The radiological findings, are described in detail, especially in regard to differentiation between physiological and pathological conditions.

[The use of diagnostic imaging methods in reptiles]. / Zur Anwendung bildgebender diagnostischer Verfahren bei Reptilien.

Useful methods of clinical imaging in reptiles are described using examples. Most important in reptiles is radiography with or without contrast media. Invasive diagnostic methods often used are endoscopy and laparoscopy. Ultra sound scanning in reptiles is established for controlling ovary function.

[O-serovar distribution and antibiotic sensitivity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains from birds and reptiles]. / Untersuchung zur O-Serovarverteilung und Antibiotikaempfindlichkeit von Pseudomonas aeruginosa-Stämmen aus Vögeln und Reptilien.

100 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P.a.) from birds and reptiles were compared by determination of their O-serovars and their resistance to chemotherapeutic agents. A great number of isolates (birds 17.4%, reptiles 29.6%) were serologically untypable using 17 O-antisera by slide-agglutination-technique. The prevalence of O-serovar 0:6 was found in birds (39%) and reptiles (18.5%), followed by bird-isolates 0:1 and 0:3 (each 13%) and reptile-isolates 0:16 (14.8%). The serological distribution was different among bird- and reptile-isolates and also among the human and animal strains. All strains were resistant to penicillin G and ampicillin, more than 90% to nitrofurantoin, sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim, chloramphenicol and erythromycin. Resistance to tetracycline was found to be 87%, resistance to sulfonamide 81%, respectively. 32% of all isolates were resistant to streptomycin, 61% to kanamycin. All isolates were susceptible to genta- and neomycin. Also all isolates, except one reptile-strain, were susceptible to gyrase-blocker (Bay VP 2674). 2 isolates were resistant to polymyxin B.

[Surgical therapy of laying distress in reptiles]. / Chirurgische Therapie der Legenot bei Reptilien.

Based on 29 operations on reptiles with egg-binding (dystocia) successful methods for surgical therapy in turtles, tortoises, snakes and lizards are described. Indications, anesthesia, surgical techniques and postoperative treatment are explained. A totally new method for dystocia surgery in some turtles and tortoises is described. The knee fold was used for extraction of the eggs.

[The induction of oviposition in egg retention or laying distress of land or water turtles]. / Zur Induktion der Eiablage bei Eiverhalten bzw. Legenot der Land- und Wasserschildkröten.

We used a red-foot tortoise (Geochelone [Testudo] carbonaria, SPIX 1824) to describe in detail a successful method to induce the expulsion of the ova in tortoises. Apart from the dosage of oxytozine, the importance of the simulation of physiological environmental conditions for oviposition as well as the compensation of a potentially present Ca-deficit (50 mg/kg, Ca-Sandoz 10%, i.p.) is considered. The generally accepted dosage of up to 4 l. U./kg oxytozine, i.p., in tortoises proved to be too low in turtles. The drug dosages and other therapeutic measures against dystocia in different races and families of turtles are specified in tabular form. Finally the causes of dystocia and egg-retainment are discussed.