Metabolic Disease in a Green Iguana (Iguana Iguana) Characterized by Metastatic Calcifications

Kidney diseases are quite common and major cause of death of reptiles in captivity. Metabolic diseases caused by husbandry management and nutrition take an important part in the onset of disease. These metabolic diseases are characterized by weight loss, anorexia and pale mucous membranes caused by imbalance of calcium-phosphorus ratio in middle aged green iguanas. In the chronic form of metabolic disease, distinct dehydration, severe renal failure and metastatic calcifications can be observed. In this presented case, in the necropsy of an adult green iguana housed in a zoo, there was a white colored, hard stone about 3 cm in diameter in the urinary bladder. The consistence of the kidneys was remarkably hard and the rough appearance of the surfaces was noted. Microscopically, cortex and medulla were diffusely destructed and diffuse interstitial calcifications with marked fibrosis were seen in both kidneys. Gastric mucosa was diffusely necrotic and had bluish color due to calcifications. Interstitial calcifications were observed in lungs. Calcifications were also noted in parenchymal vessel walls of pancreas