Infectious and parasitic disease of captive reptiles and amphibians, with special emphasis on husbandry practices which prevent or promote diseases.

Reptiles and amphibians have been maintained in captivity for over one hundred years. The authors review the husbandry practices necessary for the optimal health of these species: for some species these are well known, while such information is lacking for other species. Infectious and parasitic diseases are presented in tabulated form, and a number of references are cited for those seeking more detailed information.

Report of dysgerminoma in the ovaries of a snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina) with discussion of ovarian neoplasms reported in reptilians and women.

A malnourished, captive, young adult (weight-11 kg, carapace length-25 cm), female snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina) was presented for examination and treatment of malnutrition and multiple carapace necroses. Because treatment was unsuccessful, the animal was euthanatized and necropsied. The main necropsy observations showed the presence of a 9 cm greyish-white/yellow, soft, fleshy to fatlike mass involving the right ovary near the oviduct opening and multiple similar, pea-to-walnut sized masses involving both ovaries. Microscopic examination of formalin fixed, hematoxylin and eosin and silver stained tissue sections revealed the masses to be composed of primordial germ cells arranged in a pattern morphologically compatible with dysgerminoma as described in women and other mammals. Very rarely have ovarian neoplasms been reported in turtles or other reptiles. This is the first neoplasm described in the snapping turtle ovary and the first dysgerminoma reported in reptilians. A tabulation of previously documented ovarian neoplasia in reptiles and a comparison of this cancer to those occurring in women will be discussed.

Toxoplasmosis in zoo animals.

Blood samples (collected and dried on filter paper) from 2 338 animals which had died in the zoological gardens in Berlin and other cities in the German Democratic Republic were examined by indirect haemagglutination test. Toxoplasma antibodies were found in 430 (18.3%) animals. Out of this number 1 113 were mammals and among them 201 (18.1%) were found to be positive. Out of 1 225 birds 228 (18.6%) were positive. A total of 194 species or subspecies (89 mammal species and 105 bird species) reacted positively. On the basis of these findings the spread of toxoplasma infection under zoo conditions as an artificial ecosystem in urban environment is discussed.

[Sarcosporidiosis of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus L.)]. / Die Sarkosporidiose des Rehwildes (Capreolus capreolus L.).

Examination of 197 specimens of roe deer, of 8 regions of Bohemia, both males and females of various age, revealed sarcosporidiosis in 76% of animals. The incidence of sarcosporidiosis was higher in the regions where the landscape was not much influenced by cultivating. Two types of microscopical sarcocysts, thin-walled and thick-walled ones, were found for the first time in roe deer. The thick-walled cysts were observed in one region only. Then, the sarcosporidiosis in roe deer seems to be caused by two species of coccidia. In almost 14% of positive cases of sarcosporidiosis, a pathological reaction of the infected musculature was observed.

[Sarcosporidiosis of the myocardium in hoofed game]. / Sarkosporidióza myokardu spárkaté zvere

In a histological examination of the hearts of 290 head of hoofed game sarcosporidiosis was found in 34 p. c. of the investigated cases. In the European deer it was found in 11.1 p. c., in the Sika deer in 3.9 p. c., in the Virginia deer in 12.5 p. c. (eight investigated animals, of which one was positive), in fallow deer in 10.8 p. c., in roe-deer in 78.7 p. c., in moufflon in 28.2 p. c. and in chamois in 75 p. c. (four animals, three of which were positive). Pathological changes of the myocardium were found in approximately one sixth of the positive cases in roe-deer, and in the other species in single cases. This myocarditis was non-purulent without any more marked participation of eosinophils, and rarely there was fibroproduction in the course of a protracted inflammation of the myocardium. The morphological picture of the sarcosporidiosis of the myocardium of a strong degree excludes the possibility of such an invasion to remain without any unfavourable effect on the function of the potency of heart.