Has anyone seen anything resembling this skin condition before?

This is Trucker, a Male panther, about 2 years old, otherwise active and behaving normally. I noticed these lumps on one eye turret and one shoulder a few weeks back. Thought at first it was just skin not fully shed off. Then when he shed again and the lumps appeared bigger, and now also on the other eye turret and on the mouth, even when I eased off the clinging dead skin, I became concerned.
I took him to the vet, who removed a few samples to test for fungus (which apparently takes quite awhile for results). She also suggests it could be a bacterial infection, or viral. So basically the vet says it could be anything and she really doesnt have a clue! In the meantime, She provided a topical ointment containing Biacitracin Zinc and Neomycin Sulfate, which I am to apply two or three times a day (and which he fights receiving).

I would appreciate any thoughts or suggestions.

His environment:

• Temps range from lows of 19C (66F) at night; daytime lower cage ~23C (74F), top of cage ~30C (86F) and basking hot-spot ~32C (90F).
• Humidity 42%-57% normally (higher during misting of course).
• Previously was using a CFL Repti-glo 5.0 UVB, which was changed to a Reti-glo 10 linear yesterday (bulbs are on a six month replacement schedule).
• He usually eats three times a day (variety of roaches, crickets, kingworms, stick insects, butterworms, wood sows, mealworms...). Every morning meal is lightly calcium dusted, plus anytime the feeder is crickets (so up to twice daily). Calcium with D3 is used once or twice a month. Vit supplement is used about once a month.

The other chameleons, including his brother who hatched two minutes after him and is housed in the cage next door, all have had the same lighting, feeding, misting etc schedule and have shown no issues.

Attached Images

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	TruckerSore7b.JPG (34.9 KB, 93 views)
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	TruckerSore4.jpg (114.8 KB, 85 views)

I have seen "pimples" with that coloration but they were more defined (round and even)...the ones I have seen can be viral (pox), fungal or bacterial...or contain more than one of the three. In all cases that I know of it was bad news...but I can't be sure if your chameleon has the same thing. Also, with the ones that I am aware of, I don't feel the treatment was proper. Also, any lizard that I have seen this on was WC too.

I hope your vet figures it out.

Howdy Sandra,

Thanks for posting good photos . Like Kinyonga said, viral, bacterial and fungal attacks are commonly associated with skin conditions/eruptions on chameleons and some that I've seen are similar to your photos. Mader's 2nd edition has a photo showing 3 different yet similar looking skin conditions on a Jackson's chameleon. They are exfoliative, ulcerative, and bullous dermatomycotic lesions (pg 220). It is suggested that vets need to look more often at the possibility of a fungal infection. Testing with fungal culturing and histopathologic examination can either confirm or eliminate the possibility.

A few other notes on skin related problems:

http://www.reptileforums.com/forums/...362#post221362
Images of the Jackson's in the post (photos sent directly to me):



Another thread regarding skin problems:
http://forums.kingsnake.com/view.php?id=1330111,1331276
http://forums.kingsnake.com/view.php?id=1330111,1331526
http://forums.kingsnake.com/view.php?id=1330111,1336178

__________________
See Ya,

Dave Weldon
Panther & Veileds

Book Collection:
"Reptile Medicine and Surgery" 2nd ed. By Mader
"Chameleons - Their Care and Breeding" By Linda J. Davison
"Chameleons - Nature's Hidden Jewels" 2nd Ed. By Petr Necas
"The Panther Chameleon: Color Variation, Natural History, Conservation and Captive Management" By Gary W. Ferguson...
"Thoughts for Food" 3rd Ed. Edited by Ardi Abate
"Understanding Reptile Parasites" By Roger J. Klingenberg D.V.M.

So how do chams get infected?

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Hey, who dosen't like Herps>

Howdy Juan,

A combination of many factors put an infection into play. We, and our chameleons, are surrounded by microbial life with the potential to infect. These microbes, whether they are bacterial, viral, fungal etc., need an entry mode. They may enter through a small break in the skin or have the ability to punch their way through it. They may enter though the airway among others. Once inside, they have to make it past the immune system.

A chameleon's environment plays a role in an infection. When conditions become ideal for microbes, it allows their numbers and thus their odds, to increase. Keeping an enclosure too wet/humid and letting air become stale increases those odds. Scratches in the skin that go untreated are an easy entry point and increase those odds. Humidity kept too low for a particular species increases the likelihood of airway/lung distress allowing microbes an easy path into damaged tissue. A chameleon under stress, particularly severe stress, may have a suppressed immune system and be more susceptible to an infection.

So what are a few of the things you can you do to keep the odds in your chameleon's favor?

Minimize stress:
Supply an appropriately sized enclosure.
Provide a well-planted enclosure with plenty of privacy.
Minimize human interaction relative to the chameleon's current level of acclimation.

Environmental conditions:
Allow enclosure to dry out between misting sessions.
Provide proper humidity levels throughout the day.
Provide proper heat and light.
Avoid the use of soil on the entire enclosure bottom. Use potted plants only.
Use a sanitizing product after cleaning the enclosure. (Bleach, Nolvasan, Hydrogen peroxide, 160F(?) steam, etc.)

And don't forget the role of a good gutload in boosting the immune system !

__________________
See Ya,

Dave Weldon
Panther & Veileds

Book Collection:
"Reptile Medicine and Surgery" 2nd ed. By Mader
"Chameleons - Their Care and Breeding" By Linda J. Davison
"Chameleons - Nature's Hidden Jewels" 2nd Ed. By Petr Necas
"The Panther Chameleon: Color Variation, Natural History, Conservation and Captive Management" By Gary W. Ferguson...
"Thoughts for Food" 3rd Ed. Edited by Ardi Abate
"Understanding Reptile Parasites" By Roger J. Klingenberg D.V.M.

I would also like to add mating. My fems got scratched up when mating (love bites) and I am watching those marks like a hawk. They both are getting ready to shed so I'm hoping that the scratched areas will shed off and I won't have to worry.

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1.3 veileds and 72 eggs

thank you Kinyonga and Dave for your input!

In this case, I'm confident the environment is not the issue. The temps and humidty are right, the air is not stagnant, there is good variety of feeders, the feeders are gutloaded, there is no substrate (well, there's usually papertowel on the bottom so that the poop can be removed easily and immediate, but he's never tried to eat the towel and rarely even walks on it), the cage is of an adequate size (2'x2'x4') and steam cleaned periodically and washed with a vinegar solution monthly. Furthermore, all the other chameleons, in the same room in near identical conditions, are fine.

The only recent change is the introduction of Turkish roaches, which this particular chameleon has had more of than the others (and that's not much, as since the colony is new they've each only had a few, and Trucker has had maybe half a dozen tops). Still I wonder if the roaches could carry something? Trucker got this, whatever it is, somehow!

I am a bit concerned that the issue may spread to the others, especially as I am receiving two more on Tuesday. Presumably they will be more suseptable, given the stress of shipping, a new environment, being younger, etc. I wonder if the new ones should be kept in a different room for now? It would be difficult, but not impossible to do this.

fungal or bacterial i would say,can we see a pic of you set up for him?

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does dave weldon know how to party or what!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i am in awl of your quickness and knowledge its nice havin people on here like you that we can all count on thanks dave