~ 1477 ~
Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 2020; 8(3): 1477-1483
E-ISSN: 2320-7078
P-ISSN: 2349-6800
www.entomoljournal.com
JEZS 2020; 8(3): 1477-1483
© 2020 JEZS
Received: 20-03-2020
Accepted: 22-04-2020
CM Bhadesiya
Assistant Professor, Postgraduate
Institute of Veterinary Education
& Research (PGIVER), Kamdhenu
University, Rajpur (Nava),
Himmatnagar, Gujarat, India
GR Chaudhary
Assistant Professor, Postgraduate
Institute of Veterinary Education
& Research (PGIVER), Kamdhenu
University, Rajpur (Nava),
Himmatnagar, Gujarat, India
TP Patel
Assistant Professor, Postgraduate
Institute of Veterinary Education
& Research (PGIVER), Kamdhenu
University, Rajpur (Nava),
Himmatnagar, Gujarat, India
LM Sorathiya
Associate Professor & In-charge,
Postgraduate Institute of
Veterinary Education & Research
(PGIVER), Kamdhenu University,
Rajpur (Nava), Himmatnagar,
Gujarat, India
VA Patel
M.V.Sc. Scholar, Postgraduate
Institute of Veterinary Education
& Research (PGIVER), Kamdhenu
University, Rajpur (Nava),
Himmatnagar, Gujarat, India
PJ Gajjar
M.V.Sc. Scholar, Postgraduate
Institute of Veterinary Education
& Research (PGIVER), Kamdhenu
University, Rajpur (Nava),
Himmatnagar, Gujarat, India
MJ Anikar
M.V.Sc. Scholar, Postgraduate
Institute of Veterinary Education
& Research (PGIVER), Kamdhenu
University, Rajpur (Nava),
Himmatnagar, Gujarat, India
Corresponding Author:
CM Bhadesiya
Assistant Professor, Postgraduate
Institute of Veterinary Education
& Research (PGIVER), Kamdhenu
University, Rajpur (Nava),
Himmatnagar, Gujarat, India
Prevalence of diseases and disorders of reptiles at
Veterinary Hospital of Kamdhenu University,
Gujarat, India
CM Bhadesiya, GR Chaudhary, TP Patel, LM Sorathiya, VA Patel, PJ
Gajjar and MJ Anikar
Abstract
Veterinarians are frequently involved in diagnosis and treatment of various diseases of different animal
species including reptiles. A strong database based on large-scale investigations on existing ailments in
reptile is needed in India. A university veterinary hospital provides a unique and strong platform to assess
latest information on diseases of any animal species. The veterinary hospital of Kamdhenu University,
Gujarat was started in April-2018 and is dealing with diagnosis and treatment of different animals. A
study was undertaken to record prevalence of different diseases and disorders of reptiles on the basis of
cases registered between April-2018 to December-2019. Overall, 2586 cases were registered out of
which, 57 cases were reptiles with an overall prevalence of 02.20%. The registered cases belonged to 10
individual reptilian species and diseases were recorded under 11 of 17 subcategories defined for the
study. Overall, highest percentage of cases were brought for general health checkup before release
followed by clinical cases of digestive disorders, dermatological disorders, minor surgical conditions,
general systemic conditions, dog-bite, respiratory tract disorders, major surgical conditions,
nutritional/metabolic/deficiency disorders, locomotory disorders, toxicity/poisoning and miscellaneous
conditions. It is concluded that the results of the study will provide a baseline data on existing disease
conditions in reptiles and also generate a strong platform for research benefiting the reptiles in future.
Keywords: Categories, diseases, Gujarat, prevalence, reptiles, veterinary hospital
Introduction
The Indian subcontinent has various climatic zones which provide suitable habitat for growth
and survival of a large number of animal species
[1]
. The reptiles are of significant importance
to the ecosystem of a geographical region. Gujarat state also has a remarkable population and
types of reptiles
[2]
including some venomous snakes (e.g., Indian spectacled cobra, Russell’s
viper, Common krait etc.), non-venomous snakes (e.g., Rat snake, Common trinket snake etc.),
lizards (e.g., Common monitor lizard), crocodiles (e.g., Marsh crocodile) as well as different
species of turtles (e.g., Indian flapshell turtle) and tortoises (e.g., Indian star tortoise).
Reptiles can suffer from diseases and disorders because of various reasons. Literature is
available on diseases of reptilian species in countries other than India which suggest that
reptiles can suffer from bacterial diseases [e.g., septicemia, Septicemic Cutaneous Ulcerative
Disease (SCUD), ulcerative or necrotic dermatitis, abscesses, infectious stomatitis,
mycoplasmosis, otitis etc.]; mycotic diseases [e.g., infection by Aspergillus spp.,
dermatophytosis etc.]; viral diseases [e.g., Inclusion Body Disease (IBD), retrovirus infection,
adenovirus infection etc.], ectoparasites [e.g., snake mite Ophionyssus spp., ticks belonging to
Amblyomma spp. etc.]; protozoa and endoparasites [e.g., Pentastomes etc.]; environmental
conditions and traumatic injuries [e.g., burn, fractures, injuries, prey-induced trauma etc.];
metabolic and endocrine diseases [e.g., gout, osteopathy etc.]; reproductive disorders [e.g.,
egg-bound condition]; and certain neoplastic conditions
[3, 4, 5, 6]
.
Such a detailed classification on the basis of etiology or system-involvement does not exist in
India. Scientific literature is available from research or case studies on captive and/or wild
species of Indian reptiles. For example, tick infestation in captive and wild snakes
[7, 8]
;
necrosed venom gland in cobra
[9]
; injury in captive and rescued snakes
[10, 11]
; moth fly larvae
infestation and shell infection in Indian flapshell turtles
[1, 12]
; fractured carapace, internal
parasites and cloacal prolapse in Indian star tortoises
[13, 14, 15, 16, 17]
; automobile accident and
foreign body gastritis in crocodiles
[18, 19]
; tick infestation in monitor lizards
[8, 20, 21]
etc.