Cases of photo-kerato-conjunctivitis

The photographs below show a selection of the cases we have reviewed.

The cases reviewed here are from two reports, one submitted to ZooMed in relation to Reptisun Compact Lamps and one submitted to R-Zilla in relation to Desert Series 50 lamps.

ZooMed Reptisun 10.0 Compact Lamps

The report we have submitted to ZooMed contains details of a total of 20 incidents, involving 40 animals, which have developed symptoms of photo-kerato-conjunctivitis as a result of excessive exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Of these, 18 incidents were associated with the use of the latest version of the ZooMed Reptisun 10.0 Compact Lamp and two were associated with use of the latest version of the ZooMed Reptisun 5.0 Compact Lamp. The details of these cases are summarised in the chart below. 7 cases were reported by the veterinary surgeon who examined them (MB) and details of a further 13 cases were reported by the reptiles' owners (and collated by FB).

A summary of all these cases is given in the following table.
The estimated UV Index at the basking spot was calculated from the actual lamp, when that was available, or in all other cases, from data from one of the new sample lamps after 1 - 2 hours burn, at the same distance and in a similar fixture.

Please remember, when considering the basking distances, that with one exception, at the time when these were set up, there were no instructions supplied with the compact lamps, to indicate suitable distances, and several keepers had previously used older style UVB compact lamps at the distances they chose. In the case of the one exception, the lamp had been sold as part of the equipment for use inside a small vivarium, purchased at the same time from a specialist reptile shop.

 

Cases of photo-kerato-conjunctivitis in association with the use of ZooMed Reptisun compact fluorescent lamps
Species	No. of animals affected	Symptoms	UVB lamp installed	Position and type of fixture	Date lamp installed	When symptoms appeared	When lamp removed	When symptoms resolved	Estimated UV Index at basking spot
Bearded dragon sub-adults (Pogona vitticeps) case ref: MB1	2	Inactivity, eyes closed, inappetance, swollen eyelids	New ZooMed Reptisun 10.0 compact	15cm (6in) above, mounted vertically on solid roof of vivarium -no reflector or dome.	April 2007	5 – 7 days later	After 7 days	Swelling gone in 4-5 days, allnormal in 7 – 10 days	15.7
Spur-thighed tortoise (Testudo graeca) case ref: DM1	1	Anorexia, swollen eyelids, serous eye discharge.	New ZooMed Reptisun 10.0 compact	20cm (8in) above -no reflector or dome.	April 2007	4 days later	When symptoms seen	Within 10 days	9.1
Yellow-footed Tortoises (Geochelone denticulata) case ref: FC1	2	Anorexia, swollen eyelids	New ZooMed Reptisun 10.0 compact	10cm (4in) above -no reflector or dome.	May 2007	3 days later	When symptoms seen	After 10 days	33.1
Bearded dragon juveniles (Pogona vitticeps) case ref: DM2	3	Swollen eyelids.	New ZooMed Reptisun 10.0 compact	20cm (8in) above basking spot -no reflector or dome.	May 2007	2-3 days	When symptoms seen	Within a few days	9.1
Veiled Chameleon juvenile (Chamaeleo calyptratus) case ref: MB2	2	Eyes closed inactivity, anorexia	ZooMed Reptisun 10.0 compact in use 1 month	< 15cm (6in) to side of basking branches - no reflector or dome.	(1) May 2007 (2) June 2007	2-3 days	(1) lamp not removed (2) After 7 days	(1) died after 1 month (2) healed 7 days later	29.7
Bearded dragon juveniles (Pogona vitticeps) case ref: FC2	2	Inactivity, inappetance, eyes closed	New ZooMed Reptisun 10.0 compact	< 15cm (6in) above and to the side of basking rock -no reflector or dome.	June 2007	2-3 days	After 7 days	Swelling gone in 5 days, all normal in 10 days	15.7
Veiled Chameleon (Chamaeleo calyptratus) case ref: GB	1	Inactivity, eyes closed.	New ZooMed Reptisun 10.0 compact	15cm (6in) to side of basking branches -no reflector or dome.	July 2007	3 days later	When symptoms seen	Recovery over 4 – 15 days	29.7
Red-eared slider turtle (Trachemys scripta elegans) case ref: SC	2	Swollen eyelids, cessation of basking	New ZooMed Reptisun 10.0 compact	6 – 9 in above, set at an angle in white dome	4 July 2006	5 – 8 July 2006	20 Jan 2007	22 Jan 2007 – then re-occurrence when light used again	10.9 at 6in 4.9 at 9in
Red-eared slider turtle (Trachemys scripta elegans) case ref: GG	3	Swollen eyelids	10-day-old ZooMed Reptisun 10.0 compact	12 in above, horizontally mounted in steel reflector hood	Sept 2006	4 days later	As soon as symptoms seen	Within a few days	14.4
Painted Turtle hatchlings (Chrysemys picta) case ref: J	2	Swollen eyelids, eyes closed	New ZooMed Reptisun 10.0 compact	6 in above, 10 in to the side, in aluminium dome	7 Nov 2006	9 Nov 2006	12 Nov 2006	15 Nov 2006 – then re-occurred when light used again	32.5
Red-eared slider turtle (Trachemys scripta elegans) case ref: N	1	Refused to bask, hiding, inappetance, swollen eyelids	New ZooMed Reptisun 10.0 compact	Not recorded	19 Dec 2006	21 Dec 2006	21 Dec 2006	26 Dec 2006
Bearded dragon hatchlings (Pogona vitticeps) case ref: JP	8	Eyes closed	New ZooMed Reptisun 5.0 compact	10 -18 cm (4 -7 ins) above sloping ramp. No reflector or dome	20 Dec 2006	21 Dec 2006	21 Dec 2006	4 had recovered by 23 Dec, all by 2 Jan	9.8 at 4in 4.1 at 7in
Red-eared slider turtle (Trachemys scripta elegans) case ref: OG	1	Eyes closed, swollen eyelids, lethargic. Skin peeled from eyelids.	New ZooMed Reptisun 10.0 compact	6 in above, set at an angle in white dome	17 Feb 2007	21 Feb 2007	22 Feb 2007	27 Feb 2007	14.9
Red-eared slider turtle (Trachemys scripta elegans) case ref: CS	1	Swollen eyelids	New ZooMed Reptisun 10.0 compact	5 in above, set at an angle in small white lampholder	6 April 2007	7 April 2007	8 April 2007	10 April 2007	21.0
Red-eared slider turtle (Trachemys scripta elegans) case ref: SS	2	Refusing to bask, eyes closed, swollen eyelids	New ZooMed Reptisun 10.0 compact	(1) 10in above at angle, in aluminium dome then (2) 15in, in white dome	(1) 8 April 2007 (2) 15 April 2007	(1) 8 April 2007 (2) 16 April 2007	(1) 12 April 2007 (2) 16 April 2007	(1) 14 April 2007 (2) 18 April 2007	(1) 41.8 (2) 2.2
Red-eared slider turtle (Trachemys scripta elegans) case ref: V	1	Inappetance lethargy, swollen eyelids	New ZooMed Reptisun 10.0 compact	4 – 5 in above, set at an angle. No reflector or dome	10 April 2007	11 April 2007	12 April 2007	14 April 2007	31.9 at 4in 21.0 at 5in
Red-eared slider turtle (Trachemys scripta elegans) case ref: L	1	Eyes closed, staying out of water, swollen eyelids	New ZooMed Reptisun 10.0 compact	6 in above, set at an angle. No reflector or dome	25 April 2007	27 April 2007	28 April 2007	29 April 2007	14.9
Red-eared slider turtle hatchlings (Trachemys scripta elegans) case ref: R	2	Refusing to bask, eyes closed, swollen eyelids	New ZooMed Reptisun 5.0 compact)	5 – 6 in above, set at an angle in white dome	2 May 2007	5 May 2007	6 May 2007