[Myocardiosis in a 6-month-old Lawson's Dragon (Pogona henrylawsonii)]

Tierarztl Prax Ausg K Kleintiere Heimtiere. 2013;41(3):191-7.
[Article in German]

Abstract

In a 6-month-old, chronically inappetent Lawsons's Dragon (Pogona henrylawsonii) with stunted growth a hyperdense cardiac region was found using radiology and computed tomography. At necropsy a profound necrosis of the myocardium with dystrophic calcification was diagnosed. In contrast to the frequently seen metastatic mineralisation of soft tissues, mainly due to poor husbandry, primary tissue destruction is the cause for dystrophic calcification. In reptiles, this is a rarely described form of calcification. Possible causes are infectious processes, nutritional or metabolic insufficiencies, intoxications or genetic components. In the presented case the aetiology could not be determined. In conclusion, dystrophic calcifications should be considered as a differential diagnosis in reptiles with soft tissue mineralisation.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Calcinosis / diagnosis
  • Calcinosis / diagnostic imaging
  • Calcinosis / veterinary*
  • Cardiomyopathies / diagnosis
  • Cardiomyopathies / diagnostic imaging
  • Cardiomyopathies / veterinary*
  • Iguanas*
  • Radiography