ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews the most important bacterial diseases of reptiles. One of the major challenges in reptile medicine is estimating the contribution of bacterial isolates to disease. Clinical bacteriology in reptiles is currently limited to the identification of bacteria in clinical samples that either grow well in vitro or can be detected using polymerase chain reaction. Bacteria in the genus Pseudomonas are gram-negative bacilli. There are relatively few reports of pseudomonad infections in chelonians, with most reports involving lizards and snakes. Aeromonas bacteria are gram-negative bacilli that have been identified as important pathogens in all major groups of reptiles. Reptiles may be presented with gaping of the mouth, labored respiration, and harsh respiratory sounds. Salmonella predominantly colonizes the intestinal tract of reptiles and is frequently found in the oral cavity, the distal intestinal tract, and the cloaca of healthy reptiles, without marked mucosal invasion and inflammation, seroconversion, and clinical signs that are often seen in mammals and birds.
