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Health Assessment of a Spiny-Tailed Lizard (Uromastyx spp.)Population in Abu Dhabi, United Arab EmiratesAuthor(s): Jesus L. Naldo, D.V.M., Nelson L. Libanan, D.V.M., and Jaime H.Samour, M.V.Z., Ph.D., Dipl. E.C.A.M.S.Source: Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine, 40(3):445-452. 2009.Published By: American Association of Zoo VeterinariansDOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1638/2008-0085.1URL: http://www.bioone.org/doi/full/10.1638/2008-0085.1

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HEALTH ASSESSMENT OF A SPINY-TAILED LIZARD

(UROMASTYX SPP.) POPULATION IN ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB

EMIRATES

Jesus L. Naldo, D.V.M., Nelson L. Libanan, D.V.M., and Jaime H. Samour, M.V.Z., Ph.D., Dipl.

E.C.A.M.S.

Abstract: A study was conducted to determine the health status of the free-living spiny-tailed lizard (Uromastyx

spp.) population at Wrsan, Al Ajban, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. A total of 90 spiny-tailed lizards, 61

males and 29 females, were examined from June to August 2006. Mean body weights were 1,564.4 g and 809.4 g for

males and females, respectively. Mean body lengths were 62.1 cm and 49.4 cm for males and females, respectively.

Fourteen lizards were found with abnormalities including abscesses, bite wounds, and deformed or missing tail

ends, digits, or claws. Radiographic examination revealed osteomyelitis, arthritis, and healed fractures. Reference

hematology and chemistry values were obtained from the 76 clinically normal lizards. Hemoparasitemia included

possible new species of Karyolysus and Hepatozoon. The most common oropharyngeal organisms isolated were

Escherichia coli, Providencia spp., and nonhemolytic Staphylococcus; and the most common cloacal organisms were

E. coli, Proteus spp., Providencia spp., and nonhemolytic Staphylococcus. Ascarids were the only endoparasites

found. This is the first biomedical data published for the spiny-tailed lizard.

Key words: Health assessment, spiny-tailed lizard, Uromastyx spp., United Arab Emirates.

INTRODUCTION

There are more than 15 species of spiny-tailed

lizards (Uromastyx spp.) distributed from North

Africa to India. Two species are present in the

United Arab Emirates (UAE), namely, the

Egyptian spiny-tailed lizard (Uromastyx aegyptia

microlepis) and Leptien’s spiny-tailed lizard

(Uromastyx leptieni) (Fig. 1). Leptien’s spiny-

tailed lizard was recognized as a separate species

in 2000.11 Due to their physical similarities, no

distinction was made between the two species in

this study.

Spiny-tailed lizards, called ‘‘dhub’’ in Arabic,

are large ground-dwelling herbivorous lizards

found on gravel terrain and interdune compact

soils throughout the UAE.2,5,6 They grow up to

70-cm long and usually live in loose colonies.

Juveniles are typically gray with dark spots, while

adults are most commonly gray. However, adults

can also be red, orange, green, and yellow. Being

cold-blooded animals, they need to lie in the sun

before they can function effectively. When cold,

their color is slate grey; as they warm, various

creamy colors develop until they are completely

warm and bright mustard-yellow. Foxes, black

desert cobra, and birds of prey found in the

Arabian desert regions, such as the golden eagle

and long-legged buzzard, can capture and eat

dhub lizards.4,7

The number of spiny-tailed lizards in the UAE

is believed to be under threat because of the

development of many areas in which they live.

This species is protected by Federal Decree No. 9

issued in 1983, and trade is banned under the

Convention on International Trade in Endan-

gered Species of Flora and Fauna (CITES).10

There is scant information available on the

health status of this species in the wild. Because

of this lack of information, a study was

conducted to determine the health status of the

spiny-tailed lizard population in Wrsan, Al

Ajban, Abu Dhabi (UAE).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Wrsan (N24u36932.44, E54u4897.09) is a pri-

vately owned wildlife reserve measuring 8- km

long and 3.5-km wide, located approximately

70 km northeast of Abu Dhabi City in UAE. A

total of 90 spiny-tailed lizards, 61 males and 29

females, were captured from June to August 2006.

The lizards were caught manually after 0800

hours when they came out from their burrows to

bask and were transported to the veterinary clinic

using commercially available pet carriers. The

lizards were allowed to rest for a minimum of 1 hr

prior to anesthesia with isoflurane (Attane,

Minrad, Inc., New York, New York, USA) and

oxygen via face mask. While under anesthesia, a

physical examination was conducted. Sex was

determined by manual eversion of the hemipenis

From the Wrsan, Wildlife Division P.O. Box 77338,

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Correspondence

should be directed to Dr. Naldo ( jessnaldo@yahoo.

com).

Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 40(3): 445–452, 2009

Copyright 2009 by American Association of Zoo Veterinarians

445

and observation of gender-specific morphology.

Male spiny-tailed lizards, in general, have more

robust bodies and head and highly developed

femoral pores compared with females. Body

weight and length from snout to tail tip were

obtained on each animal. Dorsoventral and

lateral survey radiographs of each lizard were

obtained. Age was determined via radiographic

evaluation of long bone ossification.

An average volume of 2 ml of blood was

obtained from the ventral coccygeal vein of each

lizard using 3-ml disposable syringes and 23-

gauge 3 1-inch disposable needles (Fig. 2) using

previously published venipuncture techniques for

Sauria.9 After collection, 0.5 ml of blood was

immediately mixed with the anticoagulant ethyl-

ene diamine tetra-acetic acid (EDTA, 1.5 mg/ml

of blood), and 1.5 ml of blood was mixed with a

clot activator, in commercially available storage

tubes, for hematologic and serum chemistry

analysis, respectively. The blood samples were

processed in an in-house laboratory 1 to 3 hr

after collection. The techniques used to perform

blood counts and fibrinogen estimates were as

described by Samour.8 Blood smears were air

dried and stained using the modified Wright-

Giemsa staining procedure.8 Serum samples were

allowed to stand in slant position for 1.5 hr then

were centrifuged at 125 g for 15 min using a

benchtop centrifuge. A minimum volume of

0.6 ml of serum was collected, and the automated

UDICHEM-RASTA chemistry analyzer (Ana-

lyzer Medical System, Rome 56033, Italy) was

used to perform the chemistry analysis.

To assess microflora populations, cloacal and

oropharyngeal swabs were obtained from each

animal and processed the day of collection.

Samples were cultured into blood agar and

MacConkey agar for bacterial isolation. Identi-

fication of bacteria was carried out with the

BioMerieux API kits (BioMerieux, Inc., Durham

North Carolina 27712, USA). In addition, air-

dried smears were prepared from the oropharyn-

geal swabs and stained with Diff-Quick (Astral-

diagnostics, Inc., West Deptford, New Jersey

08066, USA) for cytologic examination.

Fecal samples when present in the pet carrier

were opportunistically collected and examined

for parasites using direct microscopy and flota-

tion technique. All lizards were photographed

and marked with identification numbers on the

dorsum using a permanent marker. Late in the

Figure 1. Spiny-tailed lizard or ‘‘dhub’’ lizard basking under the sun.

446 JOURNAL OF ZOO AND WILDLIFE MEDICINE

afternoon on the day of capture, they were

released near the capture site. Some lizards were

seen 2 mo later with the identification numbers

clearly visible.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Body weight and length

The body weights and lengths of the spiny-

tailed lizards are presented in Table 1.

Clinical examination

Clinical examination revealed 14 of 90 (15.6%)

spiny-tailed lizards were clinically abnormal.

Figure 2. Blood collection from the ventral tail vein for hematology and chemistry analysis.

Table 1. Body weights and lengths of spiny-tailed lizards.

Sex No. of lizards

Weights Lengths

Mean 6 SEMa (Minimum–Maximum) Mean 6 SEMa (Minimum–Maximum)

Male 61 1564.4 6 46.1 (328–2,146) 62.1 6 0.7 (36.2–71)

Female 29 809.4 6 35.1 (418–1,082) 49.4 6 0.7 (39.7–54.8)

a SEM, standard error of mean.

Table 2. Clinical findings in 14 Spiny-tailed lizards.

Findings No. of lizards

Emaciation 2

Abscess 5

Fresh bite wounds 5

Deformed or missing tail tips 5

Deformed or missing digits 4

Deformed or missing claws 8

Deformed upper jaw 1

Ankylosed joints 1

NALDO ET AL.—HEALTH ASSESSMENT OF THE SPINY-TAILED LIZARD (UROMASTYX SPP.) 447

Figure 3. Radiograph of an emaciated Spiny-tailed lizard. There is arthritis of the left femorotibial joint and

periostitis and fracture of the proximal right femur. Note the short length of the right femur. Physical examination

revealed ankylosis of the left femorotibial joint and right coxofemoral joint.

448 JOURNAL OF ZOO AND WILDLIFE MEDICINE

Figure 4. Radiograph of a Spiny-tailed lizard with an abscess of the right forelimb probably as a result of an

injury sustained during a fight. There is severe osteomyelitis of the right humerus. Organisms isolated from the

abscess included Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp., Proteus spp., and Staphylococcus spp.

NALDO ET AL.—HEALTH ASSESSMENT OF THE SPINY-TAILED LIZARD (UROMASTYX SPP.) 449

Abnormalities observed in 10 male and 4 female

lizards are presented in Table 2. The injuries

sustained by the spiny-tailed lizards probably

occurred during mating; from interterritorial

fights; or from predators such as foxes, which

abound in the study area.

Radiographic examination

Radiographic examination revealed 18 of 90

(20%) spiny-tailed lizards were sub-adults as

evidenced by the incomplete ossification of long

bones. Abnormalities observed in the radio-

graphs included osteomyelitis and arthritis in

eight lizards and healed fractures in five animals

(Figs. 3 and 4).

Blood analysis

The hematology and blood chemistry values

obtained from 76 clinically normal free-living

spiny-tailed lizards are presented in Tables 3 and

4. These data may serve as normal reference

values. Hematology results from spiny-tailed

lizards with medical conditions are presented in

Table 5.

The clinically abnormal animals demonstrated

interesting hemopathologic values when com-

pared with the clinically normal animals. Lizard

No. 3 presented with extreme emaciation and

advanced dehydration probably associated with

the compound fracture of the humerus resulting

in a large abscess and osteolysis. In comparison

with the clinically normal lizards, this lizard

showed high red blood cell (RBC) (5.8 3 1012/L),

and low mean corpuscular volume (MCV) (36.2

fl) probably associated with advanced dehydra-

tion. The white blood cell (WBC) was elevated

(18.0 3 109/L) with marked heterophilia (15.5 3

109/L), and thrombocytosis (18.18 3 109/L). The

fibrinogen (6.0 g/L) was also elevated. These

hemopathologic changes were probably associat-

Table 3. Hematology values of clinically normal Spiny-tailed lizards (n 5 76).

Parameters

Results (absolute count)

Results (%)Mean 6 SEMa (Minimum–Maximum)

RBC 3 1012/L 0.78 6 0.05 (0.33–4.1)

Hb g/dl 9.93 6 0.26 (3.3–17.4)

PCV% 29.70 6 0.74 (4.9–44.5)

MCV fl 415.47 6 9.34 (119.5–614)

MCH pg 133.65 6 3.46 (1.2–203.5)

MCHC g/dl 32.55 6 0.38 (22.2–41.3)

WBC 3 109/L 3.10 6 0.17 (1.0–8.1)

Heterophils 3 109/L 2.00 6 0.12 (0.59–5.36) 64.44 6 1.43 (35.0–81.0)

Lymphocytes 3 109/L 0.99 6 0.08 (0.27–4.05) 32.08 6 1.34 (17.0–60.0)

Monocytes 3 109/L 0.04 6 0.01 (0.0–0.5) 1.30 6 0.22 (0.0–14.0)

Eosinophils 3 109/L 0.04 6 0.01 (0.0–0.2) 1.32 6 0.19 (0.0–8.0)

Basophils 3 109/L 0.03 6 0.01 (0.0–0.33) 0.79 6 0.11 (0.0–4.0)

Thrombocytes 3 109/L 9.58 6 0.94 (2.9–22.9)

Fibrinogen g/L 1.80 6 0.13 (0.0–6.0)

a SEM, standard error of mean; RBC, red blood cell; Hb, hemoglobin; PCV, packed cell volume; MCV, mean corpuscular

volume; MCH, mean corpuscular hemoglobin; MCHC, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration; WBC, white blood cell.

Table 4. Blood chemistry values of clinicallynormal spiny-tailed lizards (n 5 76).

Analysis

Results

Mean 6 SEMa (Minimum–Maximum)

Albumin (g/dl) 2.02 6 0.05 (1.2–3.1)

ALKP (U/L) 30.81 6 3.23 (5.9–139.3)

BUN (mg/dl) 0.56 6 0.08 (0.0–3.0)

Calcium (mg/dl) 9.88 6 0.18 (7.2–13.2)

Cholesterol (mg/dl) 160.66 6 7.21 (64.0–295.0)

Creatinine (mg/dl) 0.40 6 0.04 (0.1–3.0)

CK (U/L) 1778.36 6 234.75 (141.1–10016.0)

GGT (U/L) 0.79 6 0.12 (0.0–5.0)

GOT (U/L) 73.06 6 4.59 (28.5–172.0)

GPT (U/L) 11.0 6 0.78 (2.4–34.8)

Glucose (mg/dl) 200.35 6 6.04 (67.7–355.6)

LDH (U/L) 209.61 6 24.89 (22.0–899.0)

Magnesium

(mg/dl) 3.48 6 0.14 (2.1–10.2)

Total protein (g/dl) 4.03 6 0.11 (2.6–7.4)

Uric acid (mg/dl) 2.94 6 0.18 (0.3–7.3)

a SEM, standard error of mean; ALKP, alkaline phospha-

tase; BUN, blood urea nitrogen; CK, creatine kinase; GGT,

gamma glutamyl transferase; GOT, glutamic-oxaloacetic; GPT,

glutamic pyruvic transaminase; LDH, lactate dehydrogenase.

450 JOURNAL OF ZOO AND WILDLIFE MEDICINE

ed with the presence of the large abscess around

the fracture site and related septicemia. Lizard

No. 55 presented with moderate emaciation and

moderate-to-severe osteomyelitis of the left knee

joint. This lizard showed low RBC (0.61 3 1012/

L), hemoglobin (Hb) (5.8 g/dl), packed cell

volume (PCV) (19%), mean corpuscular volume

(MCV) (311 fl), mean corpuscular hemoglobin

(MCH) (95 pg), and mean corpuscular hemoglo-

bin concentration (MCHC) (30.5 g/dl). In addi-

tion, the WBC was low (2.4 3 109/L) with mild

heteropenia (1.48 3 109/L), and lymphopenia

(0.88 3 109/L). The thrombocyte count was also

slightly low (6.36 3 109/L). Lizard No. 90

presented with mild arthritis of an elbow joint

only. Hemopathologic changes included moder-

ately high WBC (6.6 3 109/L) with mild

heterophilia (4.01 3 109/L), and mild lymphope-

Table 6. Bacteria isolated from the oropharynx and cloaca of spiny-tailed lizards.

Bacterial isolate No. of lizards with oropharyngeal isolates No. of lizards with cloacal isolates

Escherichia coli 11 65

Providencia spp. 14 11

Pseudomonas spp. 2 4

Proteus spp. 3 20

Nonhemolytic Staphylococcus 13 31

b-hemolytic Staphylococcus 2 0

Nonpathogenic Staphylococcus 4 3

Nonhemolytic Streptococcus 2 1

Corynebacterium spp. 2 2

Klebsiella spp. 1 9

Serratia spp. 1 2

Neisseria spp. 1 0

Leifsonia aquatica 1 0

Aerococcus viridans 1 0

Salmonella spp. 0 7

Streptococcus fecalis 0 2

Enterobacter spp. 0 3

Acinetobacter spp. 0 1

Hafnia spp. 0 2

Bacillus licheniformis 0 1

Table 5. Hematology values of three Spiny-tailed lizards with medical conditions.

Parametersa

Dhub lizard Dhub lizard Dhub lizard

No. 3b No. 55c No. 90d

RBC 3 1012/L 5.8 0.61 0.75

Hb g/dl 6.5 5.8 9.9

PCV% 21.0 19 30.0

MCV fl 36.2 311 400.0

MCH pg 11.2 95 132.0

MCHC g/dl 30.9 30.5 33.0

WBC 3 109/L 18.0 2.4 6.6

Heterophils 3 109/L 15.5 1.48 4.01

Lymphocytes 3 109/L 1.6 0.88 2.18

Monocytes 3 109/L 0.36 0.024 0.26

Eosinophils 3 109/L 0.18 0 0

Basophils 3 109/L 0.36 0 0.13

Fibrinogen g/L 6.0 5.0 2.5

Thrombocytes 3 109/L 18.18 6.36 No data

a RBC, red blood cell; Hb, hemoglobin; PCV, packed cell volume; MCV, mean corpuscular volume; MCH, mean corpuscular

hemoglobin; MCHC, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration; WBC, white blood cell.b Clinical findings included emaciation, dehydration, abscess, compound fracture of humerus and osteolysis.c Clinical findings included emaciation and osteomyelitis of left knee joint.d Clinical findings included arthritis of elbow joint.

NALDO ET AL.—HEALTH ASSESSMENT OF THE SPINY-TAILED LIZARD (UROMASTYX SPP.) 451

nia (2.18 3 109/L) probably due to the arthritic

changes.

Hemoparasites

Fifty-nine (65.6%) of a total of 90 blood films

were found positive for hemoparasites. The

degree of parasitemia per 100 red blood cells

counted ranged from 0.1 to 10%. The parasites

were identified as possible new species of Hepa-

tozoon and Karyolysus (Peirce, pers. comm.).

Oropharyngeal and cloacal organisms

Of 90 spiny-tailed lizards examined, bacterial

isolates were identified from the oropharynx and

cloaca of 35 and 65 animals, respectively

(Table 6). The most common oropharyngeal

organisms isolated were E. coli, Providencia spp.

and nonhemolytic Staphylococcus. The most

common cloacal organisms isolated were E. coli,

Proteus spp., Providencia spp., and nonhemolytic

Staphylococcus.

E. coli, Proteus, Aeromonas, and Pseudomonas

are common isolates from reptilian gut content

and cloacal swabs.3 Salmonella organisms have a

variable degree of pathogenicity for reptiles. They

are normal inhabitants of the reptile gastrointes-

tinal tract, hence their frequent appearance as

invading agents in lesions or in a gut over-

growth.1

Endoparasites

Four of seven (57%) opportunistically collect-

ed fecal samples examined for endoparasites had

low level infection with ascarids.

The overall population of spiny-tailed lizard in

this study appears to be healthy. To the

knowledge of the authors, this is the first set of

biomedical data published for the spiny-tailed

lizard. The results obtained, however, are from a

relatively small population of lizards in a small

geographic area of the natural range for the

species. Nevertheless, the data presented can be

used as a general guideline to assess health and

disease in specimens of this species. Similar

studies in other localities are recommended.

Biomedical studies on free-ranging animals pro-

vide valuable data for medical management in the

event captive-breeding programs become neces-

sary to ensure survival of the spiny-tailed lizard.

Acknowledgments: The authors would like to

thank His Highness Sheikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al

Nahyan for his support to the clinical and

research program of the Division and all staff

of the Veterinary Science Department and Bird

Department for the technical assistance provided.

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Received for publication 21 May 2008

452 JOURNAL OF ZOO AND WILDLIFE MEDICINE