Amphibians With Dermatological Disease: A Retrospective Study of 223 Cases at Five University Veterinary Teaching...

Amphibian skin has unique structural properties and physiological functions that make it vulnerable to environmental influences and trauma. Based on a comprehensive literature search, no large-scale study has assessed the most common causes of dermatopathies or diagnostics clinically employed in these taxa.

This study aimed to evaluate aetiologies of dermatological disease, diagnostic methods, treatments and incidence of antemortem versus postmortem diagnosis of dermatological disease in amphibians under human care.

This descriptive retrospective study reviewed the medical records of 223 amphibians with dermatological disease evaluated at five institutions between 1 January 1986 and 1 January 2024.

The most common aetiologies of dermatological disease were infectious (47.1%; 105 of 223), undefined (21.5%; 48 of 223) and inflammatory (20.6%; 46 of 223). Diagnosis of bacterial skin disease or chytridiomycosis was most often made based on histological results. Antemortem diagnostic testing was performed in 22.9% (51 of 223) of amphibians. A diagnosis was determined antemortem in 31.4% (70 of 223) of cases, and postmortem in 68.7% (153 of 223) of cases.

Although dermatopathies are common in amphibians under human care, an antemortem diagnostic approach was uncommon, representing areas for improvement in the medical management of this taxon.