marauderhex
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We wanted to get this information out there because cancer is extremely rare in leopard geckos. This is a record for people who may run into similar circumstances. I will recount the story as best I can.
We obtained a breeding pair of "midnight" blizzards (not a proven morph) that were at least a year old, more likely at least two years old. They did well for a while and then the male, Psycho, began having some shedding issues. He would shed increasingly more often. About a year ago we took him to the vet with impacted hemipenes. They did a fecal which came back positive for pinworms and we were instructed to give him a round of antibiotics and dewormer. We also dewormed the female at this time as they had been living together for a long time (they were separated shortly before deworming). We also treated the impaction with daily warm baths and massaging. The impaction eventually worked loose (about 2 to 3 months to entirely clear it) and did not return. A month to six weeks ago, we noticed a drop in weight (visible in the tail) and swelling in his belly. We took him to the vet again who did an ultrasound. It showed a larger tumor on or near his kidney. After some research, the vet said that there was nothing that could be done and the fluid building in his belly was pushing on his lungs. He was unable to get comfortable, was loosing 1 to 2 grams per day, and was losing interest in food. We decided it was time to have him euthanized before he suffered any more. The vet did a necropsy and had the tumor analyzed. It was a testicular tumor that had begun to spread. The vet informed us that this is incredably rare in leopard geckos so we would like to share this information as much as possible. Also, I would like to say that the female, Nekro, is happy and healthy. Below is the report we recieved.
HISTORY: This approximately 3-year-old, male leopard gecko had a history of weight loss and a large amount of coelomic fluid. A palpable irregular coelomic mass was noted, and euthanasia was performed for humane and diagnostic purposes. A large firm irregular yellow mid caudal coelomic mass was identified possibly from the testicle or kidney associated with much clear yellow, free fluid. Several small metastases were noted in the coelom.
CLINICAL DIAGNOSIS: Open.
GROSS: Received in formalin is one tissue to 2 cm. in greatest dimension that is processed in one block.
MICROSCOPIC: The specimen represents a testicular round cell tumor. The tumor is comprised of tubular formations of neoplastic round cells that have scant to large amounts of pale eosinophilic to markedly vacuolated cytoplasm. The cells have moderate to marked anisokaryosis with hyperchromatic nuclei containing single, small to somewhat prominent nuclei, and occasional mitotic figures. Emboli of neoplastic cells are present within vascular channels.
HISTOPATHOLOGIC DIAGNOSIS: Seminoma, testicle.
COMMENT: This tumor appears to represent a seminoma, at least in most portions of the tumor. There are a few areas where the cells are more vacuolated and could possibly represent differentiation towards Sertoli cell tumor (mixed germ cell tumor). The tumor is in some vascular channels and could possibly have metastasized. These tumors are uncommon in geckos, and this may be the only case that I have on file.
Note: I wasn't sure whether to put this under genetics or health/medications. If a mod thinks it belongs elsewhere, feel free to move it.
We obtained a breeding pair of "midnight" blizzards (not a proven morph) that were at least a year old, more likely at least two years old. They did well for a while and then the male, Psycho, began having some shedding issues. He would shed increasingly more often. About a year ago we took him to the vet with impacted hemipenes. They did a fecal which came back positive for pinworms and we were instructed to give him a round of antibiotics and dewormer. We also dewormed the female at this time as they had been living together for a long time (they were separated shortly before deworming). We also treated the impaction with daily warm baths and massaging. The impaction eventually worked loose (about 2 to 3 months to entirely clear it) and did not return. A month to six weeks ago, we noticed a drop in weight (visible in the tail) and swelling in his belly. We took him to the vet again who did an ultrasound. It showed a larger tumor on or near his kidney. After some research, the vet said that there was nothing that could be done and the fluid building in his belly was pushing on his lungs. He was unable to get comfortable, was loosing 1 to 2 grams per day, and was losing interest in food. We decided it was time to have him euthanized before he suffered any more. The vet did a necropsy and had the tumor analyzed. It was a testicular tumor that had begun to spread. The vet informed us that this is incredably rare in leopard geckos so we would like to share this information as much as possible. Also, I would like to say that the female, Nekro, is happy and healthy. Below is the report we recieved.
HISTORY: This approximately 3-year-old, male leopard gecko had a history of weight loss and a large amount of coelomic fluid. A palpable irregular coelomic mass was noted, and euthanasia was performed for humane and diagnostic purposes. A large firm irregular yellow mid caudal coelomic mass was identified possibly from the testicle or kidney associated with much clear yellow, free fluid. Several small metastases were noted in the coelom.
CLINICAL DIAGNOSIS: Open.
GROSS: Received in formalin is one tissue to 2 cm. in greatest dimension that is processed in one block.
MICROSCOPIC: The specimen represents a testicular round cell tumor. The tumor is comprised of tubular formations of neoplastic round cells that have scant to large amounts of pale eosinophilic to markedly vacuolated cytoplasm. The cells have moderate to marked anisokaryosis with hyperchromatic nuclei containing single, small to somewhat prominent nuclei, and occasional mitotic figures. Emboli of neoplastic cells are present within vascular channels.
HISTOPATHOLOGIC DIAGNOSIS: Seminoma, testicle.
COMMENT: This tumor appears to represent a seminoma, at least in most portions of the tumor. There are a few areas where the cells are more vacuolated and could possibly represent differentiation towards Sertoli cell tumor (mixed germ cell tumor). The tumor is in some vascular channels and could possibly have metastasized. These tumors are uncommon in geckos, and this may be the only case that I have on file.
Note: I wasn't sure whether to put this under genetics or health/medications. If a mod thinks it belongs elsewhere, feel free to move it.
