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“Red-leg” syndrome in Amphibians often refers to the hyperemia of the ventral skin that accompanies systemic infection.
Saprophytic, gram-negative bacteria such as Aeromonas spp , Pseudomonas spp , Proteus spp , and Citrobacter spp generally are responsible for red-leg.
Viruses, fungi, and other pathogens may cause similar lesions.
Ventral hyperemia is a nonspecific sign and may also be seen with toxicosis. Malnourished and recently acquired amphibians that are kept in poor conditions and very vulnerable.
Clinical signs include lethargy, emaciation, ulcerations of the skin, nose, and toes. Cutaneous pinpoint hemorrhages of the legs and abdomen. Hemorrhages may also occur in the skeletal muscles, tongue, and nictitating membrane.
Treatment (post cultures) can be any of these regimes
: Enrofloxacin (5-10 mg/kg, PO or IM, SID)
Oxytetracycline (50 mg/kg, PO, BID)
Chloramphenicol (50 mg/kg, PO, BID)
If fungal infection is suspected 0.01% Itraconazole bath (5 min, SID for 8 days) is advisable.
Mycobacteriosis in Amphibians is due to acid-fast bacilli including Mycobacterium fortuitum , M marinum , and M xenopi. It is often noticed in debilitated amphibians.
Ingestion of infectious organisms often causes Gastro Intestinal upset and systemic infection.
Affected amphibians may have grey colored nodules in the skin, liver, kidneys, spleen, lungs, and other coelomic organs.
Infected amphibians generally have an appetite but continue to suffer weight loss despite eating. Acid-fast bacilli can be detected in faeces and oropharyngeal mucus.
To culture mycobacteria you will need a media type of Lowenstein-Jensen agar. Euthanasia is usually indicated as this is a zoonotic disease.
Chlamydiosis is a nasty infection in amphibians. The disease was originally recorded in African clawed frogs fed uncooked beef livers.
Infected frogs may die suddenly or show signs of skin depigmentation, lethargy, petechial hemorrhage, and oedema.
Treatment will include treating any secondary infections symptomatically and using antibiotics.
Doxycycline (5-10 mg/kg, PO, SID)
Oxytetracycline (50 mg/kg, PO, SID) are the main obvious choices.


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