Gross and histologic evaluation of effects of photobiomodulation, silver sulfadiazine, and a topical antimicrobial product on experimentally induced full-thickness skin wounds in green iguanas (Iguana iguana)

Abstract

OBJECTIVE To assess effects of photobiomodulation, silver sulfadiazine, and a topical antimicrobial product for the treatment of experimentally induced full-thickness skin wounds in green iguanas (Iguana iguana). ANIMALS 16 healthy subadult green iguanas. PROCEDURES Iguanas were anesthetized, and three 5-mm cutaneous biopsy specimens were obtained from each iguana (day 0). Iguanas were randomly assigned to 2 treatment groups, each of which had a control treatment. Wounds in the topical treatment group received silver sulfadiazine, a topical antimicrobial product, or no treatment. Wounds in the laser treatment group received treatment with a class 4 laser at 5 or 10 J/cm or no treatment. Wound measurements were obtained daily for 14 days. Iguanas were euthanized, and treatment sites were evaluated microscopically to detect ulceration, bacterial contamination, reepithelialization, necrosis, inflammation, fibrosis, and collagen maturity. RESULTS On day 14, wounds treated with a laser at 10 J/cm were significantly smaller than those treated with silver sulfadiazine, but there were no other significant differences among treatments. Histologically, there were no significant differences in ulceration, bacterial infection, reepithelialization, necrosis, inflammation, fibrosis, and collagen maturity among treatments. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Photobiomodulation at 10 J/cm appeared to be a safe treatment that was tolerated well by green iguanas, but it did not result in substantial improvement in histologic evidence of wound healing, compared with results for other treatments or no treatment.

Non‐mammalian Hosts and Photobiomodulation: Do All Life‐forms Respond to Light?

“…Cusack et al . reported on a wound healing study in the green iguana ( Iguana iguana) . Full thickness punch biopsy wounds were made, and wound healing was stimulated by 10 J cm −2 660 nm laser better compared to the control treatment of silver sulfadiazine.…”

Effect of Multiradiance Low-Level Laser Therapy and Topical Silver Sulfadiazine on Healing Characteristics of Dermal Wounds in Marine Toads (Rhinella marina)

“…Furthermore, very few studies have evaluated the utility of LLLT in nonmammalian species. Reports of LLLT in reptiles have found limited benefits when applied to dermal wounds [ 37 – 39 ]. Specifically, in a 30-day study examining primary closure of surgically induced dermal wounds in ball pythons ( Python regius ), the authors noted improved collagen maturation on day 14, but no additional beneficial effects were identified [ 38 ].…”

“…Specifically, in a 30-day study examining primary closure of surgically induced dermal wounds in ball pythons ( Python regius ), the authors noted improved collagen maturation on day 14, but no additional beneficial effects were identified [ 38 ]. Similarly, an investigation into the effects of LLLT or SSD on second-intention healing in green iguanas ( Iguana iguana ) found that wounds treated with LLLT were significantly smaller than those treated with SSD at the end of the 14-day study, but histologically there were no significant differences among treatments [ 39 ]. Both species tolerated treatment application without evidence of negative effects, suggesting that alternative dosing strategies could be pursued to fully evaluate the use of LLLT in reptiles.…”

Methods of body temperature assessment in Conolophus subcristatus, Conolophus pallidus (Galaìpagos land iguanas), and Amblyrhynchus cristatus X C. subcristatus hybrid

“…Since cardiovascular, respiratory, and metabolic systems of reptiles are affected by temperature, accurate measurements are of great importance in both captive husbandry and research (Sato et al, 1995; Deen & Hutchinson, 2001; Seebacher & Franklin, 2005; Long, 2016). Body temperature assessment is also an important part of veterinary health examinations (Music & Strunk, 2016; Cusack et al, 2018). While ectothermic animals generally have core body temperatures close to ambient temperature, it has been shown that the animal’s temperature can differ from the immediate environment (Raske et al, 2012).…”