Medicine and Surgery of Amphibians

Abstract

Amphibians are most notably characterized by their glandular skin, which they shed regularly and ingest routinely. It is advisable to handle amphibians only with protective gloves to avoid damaging their skin. These animals absorb water readily across the skin as a means of maintaining hydration. They also easily absorb drugs and anesthetics that are applied directly to the skin. Investigators commonly utilize cutaneous respiration in amphibians and evaluate skin abnormalities via wet mount preparations, skin scrapes, and biopsy. The examination of blood samples can be useful in evaluating the status of ill amphibians, although the similarity in function of amphibian blood cell types and those of other species is largely unknown. If surgery is required, it is necessary to fast the animals before surgery, and to monitor their hydration. The wet environment required for amphibian surgery makes sterile technique challenging, and it is advisable to institute prophylactic antibiotic therapy before the procedure. The anesthetic of choice for amphibian surgery is tricaine methanesulfonate (MS-222). Postoperative recommendations include fluids, nutritional support if necessary, and analgesia. If euthanasia is required, MS-222 overdose or pentobarbital injection are the preferred methods.

Profile of cortisol, glycaemia, and blood parameters of American Bullfrog tadpoles Lithobates catesbeianus exposed to density and hypoxia stressors

“…An interaction between immune and endocrine functions promoting homeostasis when facing stressful conditions (Wick et al 1993, Gentz 2007. Agents are released during the stress process, causing not only an increase or decrease in the immune response, but also a redistribution of immune cells throughout the entire body (Forbes et al 2006, Davis et al 2008.…”

Baroreflex regulation affects ventilation in the Cururu toad Rhinella schneideri

“…ml −1 heparin in Ringer solution) for drug injections. Just after surgery, toads were treated with a prophylactic antibiotic (enrofloxacin, Flotril (Gentz, 2007;Smith, 2007). Each animal was then individually placed in a temperature-controlled chamber at 25°C in the experimental room, where it was allowed to recover for a minimum of 48 h without disturbance before the experimental procedure was begun.…”

Endoscopy in Amphibians

“…2E), and stomach. 9 Slight insufflation using air is often needed to allow passage of the telescope. The stomach can be evaluated for the presence of masses, ulcers, nodules, parasites, and foreign objects (Fig.…”