title: Brown skin disease: A syndrome of dysecdysis in Puerto Rican crested toads (Peltophryne lemur).
abstract: The endangered Puerto Rican crested toad (Peltophryne [Bufo] lemur) has been held and bred in zoos for release into protected areas in Puerto Rico since 1982. In 2004, several cases of a novel syndrome of skin changes in toads were noticed at the Toronto Zoo. A total of 21 toads were found to have similar lesions and the condition has been seen in several other groups of toads in subsequent years. Affected toads show an uncharacteristic sheen of dark-brown leathery skin, followed by recurring dysecdysis, reduced appetite, weight loss, and death from secondary causes. Histologically the condition is characterized by epithelial hyperplasia and hyperkeratosis, ulceration, and the presence of superficial mats of bacterial and fungal agents. No etiology has been identified and to date toads have not permanently responded to treatment with various pharmaceutical and nutritional therapies.
authors.affiliation: Toronto Zoo, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Graham
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Crawshaw
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pienkowski
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lentini
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dutton
authors.forename: Pauline
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Delnatte
authors.forename: Deanna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.forename: Charlene
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Berkvens
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Barker
authors.forename: Dale
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000836:Animals, Zoo; D001001:Anura; D006652:Histological Techniques / Q000662:veterinary; D017488:Hyperkeratosis, Epidermolytic / Q000473:pathology; D018978:Molting / Q000502:physiology*; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013577:Syndrome
keywords: amphibian; hyperkeratosis; skin