Cholelithiasis in adult bearded dragons: retrospective study of nine adult bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps) with cholelithiasis between 2013 and 2015 in southern Germany.

With an increased number of pet reptiles, many diseases occur due to nutritional disorders. Between 2013 and 2015, irregular gallbladder contents (sludge/choleliths) in adult bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps) were recorded in many of the routinely conducted necropsies at the reptile rescue station in Munich (Auffangstation für Reptilien, München e.V., Munich, Germany). Nine animals, six from the rescue station and three from an associated veterinary practice (Tierärztliche Praxis für Exoten, Augsburg, Germany), were studied. Gallbladder contents from all animals were analysed at the Institute for Clinical Chemistry in Zurich, Switzerland. In three of nine animals, one cholelith composed of 100% calcium carbonate (CaCO3 ) was detected and it precipitated either as pure calcite or as a calcite:vaterite combination. In the remaining six animals, analyses suggested a protein-based material. The detection of choleliths/sludge was not anticipated at necropsy or surgery in eight of nine animals. The diet of the six animals from the rescue station was retrospectively described as mainly insects, whereas the diet of the three animals from the veterinary practice also contained little plant matter. Fed insect species were mealworm larva (Tenebrio molitor), house cricket (Acheta domestica), migratory locust (Locusta migratoria) and zophobas larva (Zophobas morio), all high in protein and fat. In other species, a nidus must be present for CaCO3 to precipitate. As a protein-based sludge was detected in six gallbladders, it is possible that a high-protein diet could lead to such a nidus and subsequently to cholelith formation. Cholelithiasis seems to be a rising problem in adult bearded dragons and is likely underdiagnosed, as many choleliths were found at necropsy. This rise in cholelithiasis may correlate with an unnatural high-protein, high-fat insect-based diet instead of a balanced plant-based diet.

Skeletal malformation in growing milk sheep.

INTRODUCTION: Two six-month old female Lacaune lambs with severe skeletal malformations of both front limbs were presented to the Department of Farm Animals, University of Zurich. The clinical examination showed alert animals with a high body weight and body condition score as well as a valgus deformation without pain or swelling. Radiographic examination showed severe irregularities in the epiphysial plate of the metacarpal bones in both lambs. Delayed growth in the lateral aspects of the physis was evident and resulted in valgus deformation. Nutritional causes were considered as the main reason for this presentation and a nutritional consultation was performed by the Institute of Animal Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Zurich. The estimated energy intake of these lambs was 65 % higher than the recommended maximum for growing sheep and the estimated vitamin D content of the diet was 71 % below the recommended allowance. Both animals were euthanized, and peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) was performed postmortem to measure total bone mineral density (BMD), trabecular bone mineral density (tBMD) and cortical bone mineral density (cBMD) of the left and right metatarsal bone of both animals. The BMD and the tBMD at 10 % of bone length were below the reference values and the BMD at 50 % was above the reference values. In addition, postmortem examination revealed a Salter-Harris-Typ-1 facture in the right caput humeri of one lamb. Histological evaluation showed defects in the articular cartilage with an eburnation in the metacarpal region and a disrupted area of columnar cartilage. This case report supports the fact that a high dietary energy intake leads to damage to the cartilage and the epiphyseal zone in sheep. In addition, insufficient dietary vitamin D intake contributed to the incomplete bone mineralization, as well as delayed growth and skeletal malformation.

INTRODUCTION: Deux agneaux Lacaune femelles de six mois présentant de graves malformations squelettiques des deux membres antérieurs ont été présentés au Département des animaux de rente de l'Université de Zurich. L'examen clinique a montré des animaux alertes avec un poids corporel et une note d'état corporel élevés ainsi qu'une déformation en valgus sans douleur ni gonflement. L'examen radiographique a montré de graves irrégularités dans la plaque épiphysaire des os métacarpiens chez les deux agnelles. Un retard de croissance du côté latéral de la physis était évident, entraînant une déformation en valgus. Des causes nutritionnelles ont été considérées comme étant la principale raison de cette situation et une consultation nutritionnelle a été effectuée par l'Institut de nutrition animale et de diététique de l'Université de Zurich. L'apport énergétique estimé de ces agneaux était supérieur de 65 % au maximum recommandé pour les moutons en croissance et la teneur estimée en vitamine D du régime alimentaire était inférieure de 71 % à l'apport recommandé. Les deux animaux ont été euthanasiés et une tomographie quantitative périphérique a été réalisée post mortem pour mesurer la densité minérale osseuse totale (DMO), la densité minérale osseuse trabéculaire (DMOt) et la densité minérale osseuse corticale (DMOc) des métatarses gauche et droit des deux animaux. La DMO et la DMOt à 10 % de la longueur de l'os étaient inférieures aux valeurs de référence et la DMO à 50 % était supérieure aux valeurs de référence. En outre, l'examen post-mortem a révélé une facture de Salter-Harris-Typ-1 dans le caput humeri droit d'un agneau. L'évaluation histologique a montré des défauts dans le cartilage articulaire avec une éburnation sousjacente dans la région métacarpienne et une zone de destruction du cartilage colonnaire. Ce rapport de cas confirme le fait qu'un apport énergétique alimentaire élevé entraîne des lésions du cartilage et de la zone épiphysaire chez les ovins. En outre, un apport alimentaire insuffisant en vitamine D a contribué à une minéralisation osseuse incomplète, ainsi qu'à un retard de croissance et à une malformation du squelette.