Journal of Veterinary Clinics (한국임상수의학회지)

The Korean Society of Veterinary Clinics (한국임상수의학회)
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Successful Management of Subcutaneous Abscess in a Captive Leopard Gecko (Eublepharis macularius)

  • Win, Phyo Wai (Laboratory of Wildlife Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jeonbuk National University) ;
  • Rhim, Haerin (Laboratory of Wildlife Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jeonbuk National University) ;
  • Kim, Myeongsu (Laboratory of Wildlife Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jeonbuk National University) ;
  • Gim, Seulgi (Jeonbuk Wildlife Center, Jeonbuk National University) ;
  • Han, Jae-Ik (Laboratory of Wildlife Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jeonbuk National University)
  • Received : 2022.07.09
  • Accepted : 2022.09.13
  • Published : 2022.10.31
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Abstract

An 8 month old leopard gecko (Eublepharis macularius) with a large nodule was referred to our hospital. During the physical examination, the nodule had an unclear boundary from the top of the left eye to the front of the left ear and prevented the opening of the left eye. A hard, cheese-like, yellow, pus-filled nodule was observed. A cytological examination of a pus swab sample revealed pyogranulomatous inflammation with rod-shaped bacteria. Ofloxacin was chosen as the empirical topical antimicrobial drug for treatment. The swab samples were inoculated in trypticase soy agar with 5% sheep blood and incubated at 37℃ for 24 h. Gram-negative bacteria were identified via Gram staining, and the Kirby-Bauer antimicrobial susceptible disk diffusion test against 24 antibiotics according to protocol M100-Ed32 of CLSI showed that the fluoroquinolone group (ciprofloxacin and enrofloxacin) was susceptible to the isolated bacteria. Molecular identification based on 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing confirmed that the isolated bacteria had a 99.85% nucleotide similarity with Serratia surfactantfaciens (GenBank accession no. CP014948). After 1 week, the boundaries of the nodule became clear; thus, the abscess was physically removed by expanding the hole formed above the eye for drainage, and flushing was repeated. After another 1 week, new tissue restoration without scarring was observed. This is a rare case report of the successful management of a subcutaneous abscess and scar-free healing in a lizard.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This subject was supported by a National Institute of Wildlife Disease Control and Prevention as "Specialized Graduate School Support Project for Wildlife Diseases Specialists".

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