Klebsiella sp.-related infectious spondylitis in a bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps)

Abstract

Background Spondylitis is an inflammation of the vertebrae that leads to a destructive process with exuberant new bone formation. Osteomyelitis can produce a distortion of the bone architecture, degenerative joint changes and ankyloses of adjacent vertebrae. In reptiles, intervertebral discs are absent, so the term discospondylitis is not used. In lizards, vertebral lesions have not been well studied. The present paper describes the first case of Klebsiella sp.-related spondylitis in a pet lizard (Pogona vitticeps). Case presentation A 2-year-old, female bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps) was presented for clinical examination due to a decreased activity level, decreased appetite and constipation. Blood tests showed no remarkable alterations. The haemogram showed normal parameters with relative lymphocytosis, although the absolute number of lymphocytes did not differ from the reference values. A computed tomography scan revealed a mixed osteolytic-proliferative bone lesion diffusing to the first and last tracts of the pre-sacral vertebrae together. A small amount of material obtained from the spinal swelling was sampled with an aseptic technique for bacterial culture, which was positive for Klebsiella sp. The antibiogram revealed sensitivity to enrofloxacin, marbofloxacin, and chloramphenicol and intermediate sensitivity to gentamicin. Complete return to spontaneous feeding was achieved 15 days after the beginning of antibiotic and anti-inflammatory therapy. Conclusions In veterinary medicine, spondylitis represents a well-known disease in small companion animals. In mammals, the most common aetiologic agents are fungi and bacteria. Antibiotic therapy was set based on the antibiogram, and marbofloxacin was chosen at a dosage of 10 mg/kg subcutaneously (SC) once per day (SID). After only 7 days of antibiotic therapy, the clinical condition improved significantly; the patient started feeding and drinking spontaneously and gained weight. This case should remind clinicians of the importance of always performing antibiograms before choosing any antibiotic therapy. Considering reptiles, there have been few papers about spinal diseases, mostly regarding snakes and a few about Iguana iguana. Relative to other species of saurians, the literature remains lacking.

Wild microbiomes of striped plateau lizards vary with reproductive season, sex, and body size

“…Previous research indicates that the cloacal microbiome serves to deposit microbes with antifungal capabilities on eggshells during oviposition 24 , and members of the Enterobacteriaceae have antifungal properties in this (unpublished data) and other systems 48 – 50 . However, we also note that some of the Enterobacteriaceae detected here (e.g., Klebsiella ) represent genera that include pathogens of other reptiles 51 , 52 . Helicobacteraceae is the next most abundant taxon in the community, and certain Helicobacteraceae species are highly host-specific and have a long-term relationship with reptiles 53 .…”

Heterotopic Ossification of the Soft Tissues Overlying the Carpal Bones of a 2-year-old Bearded Dragon (Pogona vitticeps)

“…This is the first report of ectopic bone formation in a bearded dragon. The clinical sign of joint swellings has been reported in the literature with different etiologies: osteodystrophy/metabolic bone disease, osteomyelitits, trauma, neoplasia (i.e., chondroma), septic arthritis, and gout/pseudogout (Tocidlowski et al, 2001;Girling and Fraser, 2007;Perpi ˜na´n, 2009;Reavill, 2014;Vaillard et al, 2021;Vetere et al, 2021).…”

A Case of Submandibular Leiomyosarcoma, Mimicking an Abscess, in a Ball Python (Python regius)

“…The bacteria were identified as Klebsiella oxytoca. Because this bacterium is considered an opportunistic pathogen arising from normal flora on snake skin, the mass was suspected to be an abscess [12,13]. Furthermore, after referring to human cases, we found that several reports have indicated that abscess-mimicking tumors and tumor-mimicking abscesses can cause confusion in differential diagnoses [14][15][16][17][18][19][20].…”