4 / 21
Pathology 2018
Research & Reviews: Journal of Medical and Health Sciences
ISSN: 2319-9865
Page 28
October 08-09, 2018
Edinburgh, Scotland
17
th
International Conference on
Pathology & Cancer
Epidemiology
F
or this 6-month period of 2012, a regional diagnostic laboratory in Chicago, Illinois received 31 separate hematology sample
submissions from bearded dragons (
Pogona vitticeps
) sent in from several public and private reptile collections and veterinary
practices. Of these samples, there were 5 that exhibited moderate to marked circulating lymphocytosis on the complete blood
count and differential. This indicates a presumed incidence of 16% of all hematology submissions in this reptile species over
this period. This was of concern for a potential over-representation of lymphocytosis in this species, and possibly an underlying
alternative etiopathogenesis in addition to spontaneous neoplastic transformation. Two of these 5 individuals were determined
to be most likely lymphoid leukemias and 3 were likely transient reactive lymphocytic responses to non-neoplastic unidentified
conditions based upon progression or lack thereof. Other criterion considered was a worsening clinical course, minimal response
to therapy, or euthanasia due to disease complications. In addition, 2 cases had follow up CBC’s and one principle case was
followed closely and monitored with serial hematology examinations, as well as other ancillary of tests to attempt to characterize
the lymphoid population in this animal. A sequence of DNA was found in this animal’s blood which was similar in arrangement
and character to the sequence for Feline Leukemia virus (FeLV) and the genome identified for Bovine Leukemia virus (BLV) as
well. This sequence could not be verified due to the lack of a normal genomic sequence for Pogona vitticep established or
identified for this species.
Incidence of lymphocytosis and lymphoid leukemias in bearded
dragons (
Pogona vitticeps
) at a private diagnostic laboratory
Rand J Wilson
Finn Pathologists–CVS Diagnostic Laboratories, UK
Rand J Wilson, RRJMHS 2018
Volume: 7