title: Ranavirus in an outbreak of dermatophilosis in captive inland bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Various pathogens cause skin diseases in lizards. An outbreak of skin disease occurred in a population of 100 inland bearded dragons at a breeding facility in Japan; 50 developed skin lesions and 15 mortalities were reported.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To identify the pathogens responsible for the skin lesions and to determine the cause of death.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight specimens (three dead, two euthanized, three living) were randomly selected from a group of inland bearded dragons with skin lesions consisting of multifocal superficial dermatitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Biopsy samples were taken from skin lesions and healthy skin of the live specimens. Postmortem examinations were performed on the dead and euthanized specimens. Skin samples were processed for microbiological culture, 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequencing for bacteria, ranavirus major capsid protein (MCP) gene sequencing and histopathological examination. Histopathological examinations were also performed on postmortem tissue samples.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both Austwickia chelonae and ranavirus (DNA) were detected in the skin lesions. Pathological examination revealed no significant visceral lesions caused by A. chelonae or ranavirus infection in dead specimens.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To the best of the authors' knowledge this is the first report of dermatophilosis due to A. chelonae infection in lizards and the first description of a concurrent infection with a ranavirus. The combined infection associated with the skin lesions may have been the primary cause of death. Co-infection with a ranavirus should be considered as a possible factor in cases of reptilian dermatophilosis.
authors.affiliation: Den-en-chofu Animal Hospital, 2-1-3 Denenchofu, Ota-ku, Tokyo 145-0071, Japan.
authors.forename: Kenichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tamukai
authors.affiliation: Division of Pathobiological Analysis, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, 1-7-1 Kyonancho, Musashino, Tokyo 180-8602, Japan.
authors.forename: Toshihiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tokiwa
authors.affiliation: Center of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute of Animal Health, 3-1-5 Kannondai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0856, Japan.
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Azabu University, 1-17-71 Fuchinobe, Chuo-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-5201, Japan.
authors.forename: Yumi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Une
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D060085:Coinfection; D004266:DNA Virus Infections / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000662:veterinary*; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008116:Lizards; D017995:Ranavirus