Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi yall. I have a question about illnesses in collareds. Do collareds get immunodeficient type illnesses or herpes type viruses? I know that there is the adeno virus that impaires the immune system in beardies, and the avian pox virus, related to the human herpes virus, that in the external form, causes lesions, and the wet or internal form attacks major organs. So, do collareds get immunodeficient illnesses or pox type viruses?

If I have a collared with facial lesions, and mites have been ruled out, is there some other source for the lesions that I sould be looking at?

Yes they can carry/ have a type of herpes virus, I think they named it at least in Iguanas as herpes IG 1 or something to that effect. There are certainly viruses they carry.

As far as the lesions on his face , how have you ruled out mites? Have you taken some real close up shots of his face, nose/nostrils, and eyes?
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PHEve / Eve

Hi Eve. I guess that I haven't ruled out mites completely, but the spots and blemishes are looking more like general pigment discolorations from general poor health as they don't change and haven't washed away with multiple baths. I also haven't seen any movement at all in the bath. Their behavior is perfectly normal too. They bask, and rest, and don't act frantic or lay in the water bowl now that they are well hydrated.

One lesion kinda openned up, and I thought it would heal and pass, but it is still there, and another lizard has a new one.

I wish that I could take macro shots as you suggested, but I'm not sure that my camera will do that. I'll look into it.

If it is a herpes or pox type virus, is it contagious to other lizards or is it potentially fatal? Can you direct me to articles on illnesses in these guys?

I would not rule out a plain old bacterial infection.

Yeah, I took a fecal to the vet late last week, and probably should take one of the lizards in for a work up. They came in a little over a week ago, and were emaciated. He can use a lens to look for mites, too, can't he?

Sorry gang, but this is one topic I get real aggressive about having to deal with mites from bringing in rescues. Rosebud, I can not say for sure your lizards have mites, I only saw the pics you showed me of the one and if you remember I immmedately said I saw snout damage. My rescues were also the lime green turquiose guys from Kansas area.

Having to deal with the buggers on so many lizards I was seeing new lesions each day, especially right after treating/ bathing, I would look and see blood and see that an area of the foot, nose, head, where ever ..would just open up. What happens is these evil things bore right into the skin and when they are going to die after suffcating or sprayed whatever... they come out and cause a lesion or bloody sore where they just surfaced.

I saw this time and time again. I was taking care of so many it was overwhelming at times. Scale damage, roughed up looking spots red raw looking places under scales on legs, feet ..... so on. Blemishes as you call them, holes, toe nails just falling off as the mite would be forced to surface from toe/ foot area.

Brownish blistery looking spots that were like hideouts , that could be rubbed off with a q-tip and there was sores underneath.

All kinds of things.

***** BUT LET ME SAY THIS,,,,, I HARDLY EVER SAW ANY MOVING MITES, NEVER dod I see moving mites in water. I saw lots of dead ones on paper towels, in water bowls, look like black spots, and with camera on macro I saw COLONIES in areas, mites sitting on eyes, around eyes, heads faces, noses, nostrils ear openings.... but to look at the lizard with bare eyes,,,, I would have said like so many do....I do not see any bugs.

Remember to that these things inject toxins and when they fall off the lizard gets some, a sting, some lizards get more active as they are fallign off, but some get more lethargic for a few days... or do not make it as they are enemec by then or blood is so full of toxins.

I hope your guys do not have them, but sure sounds as if they do and looking at the one you showed me, and sitting in the water the first few days, snout sores...... lesions... Just look into it.

I had 7 months worth of pics of mite damage , different stages of mites I caught with camera, I was documenting and was going to create a page for people to see, and learn what to look for, and our computer crashed and I lost all my pics, I was very disturbed and angry.
I do have a couple things, here is a pretty "TAME" shot (as in not the worst for sure) of some of the terrible stuff they do.
Some leasions are wayyyyyyyy worse and can look like something DRILLED throught their skin.

I do know what I am talking about... I got a major learning experience, I truely shared much suffering with my gang during this time BELIEVE me. I only WISH I had a maraculous way of making MITES DROP OF THE FACE OF THE EARTH.

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PHEve / Eve

Thanks, Eve. I will carry on as if it is mites, and get one down to the vet. Couldn't he see them with a magnifying lens? They are still isolated and I am practicing sterile technique in case they have mites or have some contagious condition.

There have been no mites or black specks on the paper towels or in the water. Should I spray with something? I hate to stress them with the oil thing again . . .

to the vet, tell him to check well for any signs of mites, even if he can not spot any surfaced. Whatever you are dealing with you want to END it as soon as possible, ya know!

Let us know!
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PHEve / Eve