Snake fungal disease (SFD) is an emerging disease of wildlife believed to be caused by Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola. Although geographic and host ranges have yet to be determined, this disease is characterized by crusty scales, superficial pustules, and subcutaneous nodules, with subsequent morbidity and mortality in some snake species. To confirm the presence of SFD and O. ophiodiicola in snakes of eastern Virginia, US, we clinically examined 30 free-ranging snakes on public lands from April to October 2014. Skin biopsy samples were collected from nine snakes that had gross lesions suggestive of SFD; seven of these biopsies were suitable for histologic interpretation, and eight were suitable for culture and PCR detection of O. ophiodiicola. Seven snakes had histologic features consistent with SFD and eight were positive for O. ophiodiicola by PCR or fungal culture.

This manuscript describes an outbreak of fatal toxoplasmosis in wallabies. Ten adult red necked wallabies (Macropus rufogriseus) were imported from New Zealand to the Virginia Zoo. Agglutination testing upon admission into quarantine showed all animals to be negative for antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii. Nine of these wallabies died from acute toxoplasmosis within 59-565 (average 224) days after being moved onto exhibit. Clinical signs included lethargy, diarrhea, tachypnea, and ataxia that progressed rapidly; death without premonitory signs occurred in one case. Histopathologic examination revealed interstitial pneumonia, encephalomyelitis, myositis, enteritis, and myocarditis. The diagnosis was confirmed through serologic, histopathologic, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing. Multilocus PCR-RFLP (restriction fragment length polymorphism) genotyping revealed that the first six animals were infected by a previously undiscovered Toxoplasma gondii genotype, designated as ToxoDB PCR-RFLP genotype No. 263. These six cases survived for an average of 118 days on exhibit before succumbing to toxoplasmosis. The other three wallabies were infected with a Toxoplasma gondii strain of ToxoDB PCR-RFLP genotype No. 4, which is a common strain type circulating in wild animals in North America. These three cases survived for an average of 435 days on exhibit before succumbing to toxoplasmosis. The outbreaks of toxoplasmosis in these wallabies are likely from two different sources. Furthermore, the results highlight Toxoplasma gondii PCR-RFLP genotyping in parasite diagnosis and understanding parasite transmission and potential mitigation procedures.

A male thick-billed parrot (Rhynchopsitta pachyrhyncha) was diagnosed with a malignant melanoma of the mandibular beak (gnathotheca). Surgical excision was impossible because of the location of the lesion; a combination of radiation therapy and oral antitumor drugs were used to treat the neoplasm. A whole-body computed tomographic scan showed evidence of metastasis in the lungs; the bird, therefore, was considered to have stage IV disease. Throughout the treatment period, the bird showed no clinical evidence of systemic disease. The bird was given 20 treatments of localized radiation therapy of 2.5 Gray (Gy) for a cumulative dose of 50 Gy. The bird was also treated with piroxicam and cimetidine orally from the time of diagnosis, throughout radiation therapy, and until its death. By the completion of radiation therapy, the initial lesion had decreased considerably in size. The bird survived 2.5 months after radiation therapy was completed but died of complications related to metastatic disease. Necropsy results revealed metastases throughout the body, including lesions in the lungs and liver. To our knowledge, this is the first report of localized radiation therapy and oral antitumor drugs being used to treat malignant melanoma in an avian patient. The radiation therapy did produce tumor response in the form of a reduction in size of the visible tumor.

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