ARTIFICIAL ULTRAVIOLET B RADIATION RAISES PLASMA 25-HYDROXYVITAMIN D 3 CONCENTRATIONS IN BURMESE PYTHONS ( PYTHON BIVITTATUS )

Unique Calcium Metabolism in Zoologic Companion Animal Species

Regardless of species, calcium, vitamin D, and parathyroid hormone physiology are intricately linked. However, there are many unique differences between taxa that may affect husbandry recommendations, common disease processes, and effective treatment. This article aims to provide a basic overview of calcium metabolism and physiology then specifically delve into unique attributes of calcium homeostasis in common zoologic companion animal species.

Behavior and Activity Patterns of the Critically Endangered Mangshan Pit Viper (Protobothrops mangshanensis) Determined Using Remote Monitoring

This study focuses on understanding the behavior and activity patterns of the critically endangered Protobothrops mangshanensis in China in order to better provide scientific data for upcoming artificial breeding and propagation efforts. We conducted a long-term observation of 15 Mangshan pit vipers at different sites in Hunan Province during the summer and autumn of 2021. Our methods involved analyzing the influence of environmental factors such as temperature, relative humidity, and light condition on the snakes' day and night activity and behaviors. The results revealed that the wild behaviors of Protobothrops mangshanensis include resting, sunbathing, crawling, and exploring, with distinct rhythms in their diel behavior. The snakes' diel activity exhibits three peak periods which may be related to food activity and sunbathing. This study also highlights the complex interplay of environmental factors on the activity of Protobothrops mangshanensis. Relative humidity was identified as a critical factor accounting for the difference in activity between observation groups. There was little inter-individual variation among the 15 Protobothrops mangshanensis, even though these snakes used terrestrial and arboreal habitats under different environmental conditions. These findings enhance our understanding of Protobothrops mangshanensis behavior and provide a basis for effective conservation measures for this rare and critically endangered species.

Updates for Reptile Pediatric Medicine

The health of hatchling, juvenile, and young adult reptiles continues to be plagued by historic nutritional deficiencies, old and emerging infectious diseases, and more recent phenotype-selective congenital abnormalities that impact welfare. Knowledge of mating seasonality, average egg counts, gestation times, and age and/or size for sexual maturity is necessary to help guide best practices for care of pediatric reptiles. Calcium, vitamin D3, and ultraviolet B (UVB) lighting recommendations vary in effectiveness amongst different species and can change with age. Phenotype-selective color patterns for spider ball pythons and scalation pattern for bearded dragons have resulted in vestibular disease, and increased evaporative water loss, respectively. Salmonellosis remains the most reported zoonotic disease for captive reptiles in the United States, despite improvements in client education and improvements in captive reptile husbandry.

Utilization of Natural History Information in Evidence based Herpetoculture: A Proposed Protocol and Case Study with Hydrodynastes gigas (False Water Cobra)

Simple Summary

Many reptile and amphibian husbandry practices today are based on entrenched dogma, and not necessarily science. Folklore husbandry is animal care based on this dogma, where science does not drive the advancement of herpetoculture, and the adage, “this is the way we’ve always done it” does. Though not a novel concept, a resurgence in evidence-based husbandry approaches has infiltrated recent herpetoculture practice in direct response to folklore husbandry, challenging long standing practice. Herein, natural history information, in particular, diet, habitat, climate, behavior in the field, including spatial use and reproductive biology, serve as a primary source of information in evidence-based husbandry. With widespread availability through the internet, this information that once was difficult to attain is now accessible to the masses. A theoretical framework and protocol are presented that enable anyone who has internet access the ability to address key natural history questions directly allied to herpetoculture to determine thermal husbandry, food types and feeding frequencies, enclosure size and design, and breeding protocols for amphibians and reptiles in human care. A case study and assessment protocol for efficacy is provided for false water cobras to demonstrate this method.

Abstract

Herpetocultural practices are based on norms driven by economy of space and time for keepers, with little scientific inference backing their practice. In recent years, a subset of herpetoculturalists have promoted evidence-based husbandry that relies on science and experimental design to generate husbandry practice. A theoretical framework and protocol are proposed herein that enables any individual who has access to the internet the ability to use various outlets of natural history information (scientific literature databases, social media sources, and weather websites) and previously published husbandry reports as evidence to drive the creation of novel herpetocultural practice. A case study is provided which compares readily available information on the care of Hydrodynastes gigas (false water cobra), such as online care sheets for the species, with the proposed evidence based herpetocultural protocol founded on natural history information and published care and captive breeding reports. Results were assessed for protocol efficacy and determined that the natural history informed evidence-based approach increased animal welfare and generated new information specific to the natural history of H. gigas.

The nocturnal leopard gecko (Eublepharis macularius) uses UVb radiation for vitamin D3 synthesis

Vitamin D is an important regulator of calcium and phosphorus homeostasis in animals. It can be acquired from the diet or synthesised de novo when skin is exposed to UVb. Vitamin D deficiency can lead to a complex of diseases collectively called metabolic bone disease (MBD). Diurnal lizards without access to UVb are prone to develop vitamin D deficiency, even when dietary vitamin D₃ is provided. A trial was conducted to determine whether juvenile nocturnal lizards require access to UVb to prevent vitamin D deficiency. All leopard geckos (Eublepharis macularius) were supplemented with dietary vitamin D₃. One group was exposed to low level UVb radiation (33-51 μW/cm²) from hatching until 6 months of age and a second group remained unexposed. Animals were fed ad libitum and their growth and weight gain compared with non-exposed controls. At the end of the trial, blood samples were analysed for vitamin D₃ metabolites. The concentration of the vitamin D₃ metabolite, 25(OH)D₃, was higher in UVb exposed animals (61 ± 20 vs. 38 ± 8 nmol/L), confirming cutaneous synthesis with UVb exposure. Growth and weight gain were similar in both groups, and this, together with the absence of clinical symptoms, suggests that dietary vitamin D₃ alone can meet the vitamin D requirements for growth of this nocturnal gecko, during the first six months of life. It remains to be investigated whether the higher vitamin D metabolite levels holds other health benefits for this species, such as improved bone density or immune response.

Technological Advances in Herpetoculture

Technology plays a vital role in herpetoculture because ectothermic animals rely on their environment to carry out basic physiologic functions. Controlling the environment appropriately ensures the health and welfare of captive reptiles and amphibians. This article summarizes some of the technological advances and products currently available, including lighting, climate control, and recordkeeping.

Advances in Exotic Animal Clinical Pathology

Over the last 10 years, exotic animal clinical pathology has been evolving, improving health assessment in avian, mammal, fish, reptile, and amphibian patients. These advances are reviewed in this article. Species-specific reference intervals for blood parameters are becoming more available (eg, for ionized calcium, endocrine panels, and vitamin D plasmatic concentrations). In addition, new technologies are being developed to facilitate targeted metabolite detection and result acquisition by veterinarians. Novel techniques, biomarkers, and clinical changes related to disease have been described in avian, mammal, fish, reptile and amphibian species. The use of mobile applications may also be helpful.