Proliferative thyroid lesions in three diplodactylid geckos: Nephrurus amyae, Nephrurus levis, and Oedura marmorata

J Zoo Wildl Med. 2012 Mar;43(1):131-40. doi: 10.1638/2011-0106.1.

Abstract

Over a 5-mo period, three diplodactylid geckos housed at the National Aquarium were diagnosed with proliferative thyroid lesions: a rough knob-tail gecko (Nephrurus amyae), a smooth knob-tail gecko (Nephrurus levis), and a marbled velvet gecko (Oedura marmorata). Clinical signs included an intraoral mass or ventral throat swelling (or both), oral bleeding, and weight loss. Both of the knob-tail geckos died. The histologic diagnosis for the rough knob-tail gecko was thyroid carcinoma with metastases to the liver and lungs, and thyroid carcinoma with no metastases was reported in the smooth knob-tail gecko. A thyroidectomy was performed on the marbled velvet gecko with a histologic diagnosis of adenomatous hyperplasia. Postoperative weight loss and bradycardia resolved following oral supplementation with levothyroxine. The animal is in normal health 10 mo post-surgery. Five other diplodactylid geckos in the collection remain unaffected, giving a 38% prevalence of proliferative thyroid lesions (3/8). The etiology remains undetermined. This is the first report of a cluster of proliferative thyroid lesions in geckos.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Zoo
  • Carcinoma / pathology
  • Carcinoma / veterinary*
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Hyperplasia / pathology
  • Hyperplasia / veterinary
  • Hypothyroidism / drug therapy
  • Hypothyroidism / veterinary
  • Lizards*
  • Male
  • Thyroid Gland / pathology
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / pathology
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / veterinary*
  • Thyroxine / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Thyroxine