Sudden Death Syndrome:

[Matt K]

Is anyone aware of any congenital defects or other illness that fits this description:

Female gecko, 2 years old, acts/feeds fine and seems overall very healthy. Next day acting sort of "wimpy" for lack of a better description and staying in egg-laying box all day, not interested in food. Next day deceased. Post-mortum examination shows gravid with 2 eggs nearly ready to lay (had laid 2 others previously this season which have since hatched), hemmorage around heart and liver, aneurysm located halfway down the intestinal track (not ruptured) and another ruptured aneurysm on a kidney. Since the individual was deceased, I have no way to know what may have existed prior to death and what occurred as a result of death/circulatory failure. Does not appear to be egg-bound, no blockage in the entire digestive tract, no abnormal fat deposits, overall weight moderate. Does appear to have had either convultions or seizures at time of death (assumption based on intercranial musculature stiffened in extended position as though swallowing hard).

Still reviewing medical texts, but any input is appreciated !!!

Sad, because though I do not name my animals, and they are not 'pets' that get handled, shown off, etc., she was my favorite, prettiest, and most prized leopard gecko.

 

[sunshinegeckofarm]

i have no idea what it could be called but i have had a laying female die unexpectly this year myself. but i guess these things happen. mine didnt appear to have eggs when she died but looked like she had bruising all over her body. but previously before she look like she was not doing well which was about 2 weeks before she had almost ready to lay eggs so maybe the eggs burst inside of her or something i dont know but she went down hill very quick.

im sorry for your loss sometimes they just die.

 

[SFgeckos]

Hypocalcaemia could be a possible etiology, especially since she was gravid and had muscle twitching/seizure like activity which is common with low plasma calcium levels. Or it could have been some type of congenital cardiomyopathy problem.

Jon

 

[Matt K]

Interesting you should mention that. Associated facts: I had been using another brand of calcium to dust food items with that a vendor gave me as a sample (large container at that), and for no tangible reason I felt was inadequate or otherwise less biologicaly available ( may have had a couple of 'soft' eggs from another female or two), so I had only a couple days ago gone back to the brand I've used for a long while prior without concern. So the hypocalcaemia might be a possibility or a contributing factor.

 

[CapCitySteve]

I had the same thing happen last year and since I run the necropsy lab at OSU vet school I also helped the students perform the post mortem exam. Mine bleed out in sever places throughout her GI tract but there was no associated inflammatory response at these foci. I freaked out over possible infectious causes and transmittable diseases to my other females but they were all fine and produced fine the remainder of the season. Unless you saw the siezure like activity I wouldn't hold to much stock in that theory. That can be explained by agonal muscle fasiculations and also rigor depending on how long the animal was deceased prior to being discovered. This really has my interest knowing other breeders have had similar idiopathic deaths. Keep us posted if it happens again. What did histology show?

 

[Matt K]

My 2 year old has permanately disabled my microscope (which was not really great to begin with) not too long ago, so there is not any real histology info pending me getting either a new one or getting time to go to the local lab to view samples. I would be happy to send you (Steve) a frozen unstained sample(s) in about a week or so if you would be interested in seeing some firsthand. If so PM me with where to send it. Otherwise it will be 2-3 weeks befoer I get the time and possible photos. The specimen is frozen for the meantime......

 

[adam&nikki]

i lost a crestie like this he was active feeding running around then he was lifeless sitting there doing nothing and the next day he died i never did get him to to the vet since my vet was outa town for a week at the time and there isnt any other vets in my area that take reptiles ecept a hour drive away im sorry for your loss