title: Chemotherapeutic treatment for leukemia in a bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps).
abstract: A 4.5-yr-old, captive-bred, male bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps) presented for lethargy, anorexia, and increased mucoid salivation with upper respiratory clicks. Diagnostics were declined and the bearded dragon was prescribed ceftazidime 20 mg/kg i.m. q 72 hr. The patient presented again 1 wk later with a marked monocytosis, heterophilia, and lymphocytosis, and a clinical diagnosis of chronic monocytic leukemia was made. Chemotherapy with cytosine arabinoside (100 mg/m2 over 48 hr i.v.) was initiated. Forty-four hours into the treatment the dragon became acutely unresponsive and died within 1 hr. Adverse effects as a result of i.v. cytosine arabinoside therapy were not identified despite previous reports suggestive that the drug induces renal failure.
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Illinois, 1008 West Hazelwood Drive, Urbana, Illinois 61802, USA. gwen.jankowski@gmail.com
authors.forename: Gwen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jankowski
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sirninger
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Borne
authors.forename: Javier G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Nevarez
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D007938:Leukemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D008116:Lizards; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D003561:Cytarabine