Evidence: Bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps) toxicology
Source: Europe PMC (Europe PubMed Central) REST search — first-hand peer-reviewed abstract records, pulled 2026-08-01. Queries covered toxicology, poisoning, intoxication, heavy metals, mycotoxins and (for relevant taxa) envenomation for Pogona vitticeps. The cluster returns 5 representative studies with abstracts below. Abstract text is verbatim from source; each study is traceable by PMID.
Studies
- PMID 42345783 (2026, Biology) — Long-Standing Activity with Characteristic Genomic Insertion Signatures in Reptilian Bov-B LINEs and Associated Sauria SINEs.. Abstract (opening): Although long interspersed nuclear elements (LINEs) and short interspersed nuclear elements (SINEs) are typically passed down to descendants as part of the genome, the Bov-B LINE was likely horizontally transferred from a snake to the ancestor of ruminants. Plant RTE-clade LINEs and their associated SINEs possess a genomic insertion signature different from that of mammalian L1 LINEs. However, the reason for the increased frequency of horizontal transfer in RTE-clade LINEs such as Bov-B relative to that in L1-clade LINEs has not yet been clarified. In this study, we identified family members of the reptilian Bov-B LINE and associated Sauria SINE across various squamate species to determine the amplification timing of the LINE. The findings revealed that the LINE may be over 180 million years old. Moreover, profiling of target site duplications showed that a characteristic genomic insertion signature of the LINE and SINE closely resembled the signature of the plant RTE-clade LINEs. We conducted phylogenetic analyses of RTE-clade LINEs with characteristic genomic insertion signatures and estimated their divergence times. The findings suggest an ancient origin (over 411 MYA) of the retrotranspositional mechanism underlying this signature; however, a complex evolutionary trajectory of LINEs across species warrants further investigation.
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42345783/
- PMID 42041919 (2026, Biology) — Herping the African Continent: Alien Amphibians and Reptiles in Sub-Saharan Africa.. Abstract (opening): Introduction of species represents today one of the most important problems of nature conservation. Special attention is paid to alien vascular plants and vertebrates. In the Afrotropical Region (sub-Saharan Africa), however, there is a lack of comprehensive review of alien amphibians and reptiles. The presented paper constitutes an attempt to overview the status, distribution and threats posed by introduced herp species to sub-Saharan Africa since the second half of the 18th century. This review includes 21 amphibian (including 10 established) and 57 reptile (including 33 established) species introduced to sub-Saharan Africa. Most species introduced to sub-Saharan Africa which subsequently developed viable populations originated from the Malagasy (32%), Afrotropical (30%), and Oriental (27%) Regions. Most introductions were made in the last two decades, mostly as results of an increase in international trade and herp pet industry, especially in South Africa. Stowaway and pet trade are the most common pathways of introductions. Several factors determine the successful establishment of introduced alien herp species in sub-Saharan Africa, viz. behavioral and morphological traits, propagule pressure, climate and habitat overlap, and presence of potentially competing species. The impact of alien herps in sub-Saharan Africa on the local biodiversity is not well investigated. In comparison with other continents the number of introduced and established herp species in sub-Saharan Africa is relatively low. The Malagasy Region has the highest number of introduced herp species in sub-Saharan Africa.
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42041919/
- PMID 39223842 (2026, Anatomical record (Hoboken, N.J. : 2007)) — Bioimaging of sense organs and the central nervous system in extant fishes and reptiles in situ: A review.. Abstract (opening): Bioimaging is changing the field of sensory biology, especially for taxa that are lesser-known, rare, and logistically difficult to source. When integrated with traditional neurobiological approaches, developing an archival, digital repository of morphological images can offer the opportunity to improve our understanding of whole neural systems without the issues of surgical intervention and negate the risk of damage and artefactual interpretation. This review focuses on current approaches to bioimaging the peripheral (sense organs) and central (brain) nervous systems in extant fishes (cartilaginous and bony) and non-avian reptiles in situ. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), micro-computed tomography (μCT), both super-resolution track density imaging and diffusion tensor-based imaging, and a range of other new technological advances are presented, together with novel approaches in optimizing both contrast and resolution, for developing detailed neuroanatomical atlases and enhancing comparative analyses of museum specimens. For MRI, tissue preparation, including choice of fixative, impacts tissue MR responses, where both resolving power and signal-to-noise ratio improve as field strength increases. Time in fixative, concentration of contrast agent, and duration of immersion in the contrast agent can also significantly affect relaxation times, and thus image quality. For μCT, the use of contrast-enhancing stains (iodine-, non-iodine-, or nanoparticle-based) is critical, where the type of fixative used, and the concentration of stain and duration of staining time often require species-specific optimization. Advanced reconstruction algorithms to reduce noise and artifacts and post-processing techniques, such as deconvolution and filtering, are now being used to improve image quality and resolution.
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39223842/
- PMID 41007981 (2025, Animals : an open access journal from MDPI) — Systemic CD3+ T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia in a Bearded Dragon (<i>Pogona vitticeps)</i>: Clinical, Therapeutic, and Pathological Findings.. Abstract (opening): A three-year-old male bearded dragon (<i>Pogona vitticeps</i>) exhibited acute anorexia. Biochemistry revealed mild hyperproteinemia (88 g/L) and elevated liver enzymes (ALT 60 U/L, AST 272 U/L), while the hematology report showed marked lymphocytosis. The animal had been clinically normal at a routine examination 10 months earlier. Based on the clinical and laboratory findings, acute lymphoblastic leukemia was suspected. Treatment was initiated with methylprednisolone (1 mg/kg PO q24h), marbofloxacin (10 mg/kg IM q24h), and lomustine (80 mg/m<sup>2</sup> PO q14d), calculated according to reptile-specific body surface area formulas. A transient stabilization was followed by sudden deterioration on day 3, characterized by hematemesis and severe respiratory distress, leading to spontaneous death. A complete necropsy including histopathology and anti-CD3 immunohistochemistry revealed disseminated infiltration of neoplastic T-lymphocytes throughout all major visceral organs and confirmed the diagnosis of T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma/leukemia (L/L). This case represents a rare report of systemic acute lymphoblastic L/L in a bearded dragon and underlies the importance of comprehensive diagnostics in reptiles with non-specific clinical signs and the challenges in the treatment of neoplastic diseases in exotic species.
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41007981/
- PMID 41600686 (2025, Veterinary sciences) — Biochemical and Hepatic Determinants of Reproductive Failure in Reptiles: A Review of Dystocia Pathophysiology and Management.. Abstract (opening): Dystocia represents a multifactorial and clinically significant reproductive disorder affecting a broad spectrum of reptilian species. Commonly resulting from prolonged vitellogenesis, endocrine disruption, or hepatic lipidosis, dystocia is often exacerbated by suboptimal husbandry or concurrent disease. This review critically evaluates the etiology, diagnostic criteria, and therapeutic interventions associated with this condition. Emphasis is placed on the interplay between metabolic exhaustion and hepatic compromise, which may lower the threshold for surgical intervention. The efficacy and limitations of oxytocin-based protocols are discussed in the context of hormonal receptor variability and response attenuation. Advanced diagnostic modalities, including ultrasonography, radiography/CT, and biochemical profiling, are reviewed for their utility in case stratification. Finally, surgical management options are considered for cases refractory to medical treatment, with attention paid to timing, anesthetic risk, and post-operative care. Collectively, this synthesis aims to inform evidence-based clinical decision-making and promote improved standards of care in reptile reproductive medicine.
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41600686/
Source text: pdf-raw/evidence/europepmc_bearded_dragon_toxicology_2026-08-01.txt (Europe PMC first-hand abstracts, pulled 2026-08-01).
License & attribution
Source abstracts / records are Open Access under Creative Commons. Each referenced study is reproduced with attribution under its specific CC license (CC BY / CC BY-NC / CC BY-NC-ND); the exact license variant for each reference is stated on its Europe PMC / PMC record. Original records:
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42345783/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42041919/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39223842/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41007981/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41600686/
Cleaning removal log (2026-08-05, codebuddy)
PMID 41788912 — Standing's day gecko (Phelsuma standingi) — different species, not Pogona PMID 41778266 — Galapagos short-eared owl — different species (bird), not Pogona PMID 41749246 — Tegu (Salvator merianae) — different species, not Pogona PMID 41712539 — Cross-species NfL aging biomarker in mammals/humans (mice, cats, dogs, horses) — different species, not Pogona PMID 40534780 — Small-animal (cat/dog) bacteremia — different species, not Pogona PMID 40429685 — Ptyas snakes sex chromosomes; Pogona used only as probe source — different species, bearded dragon not the subject PMID 40888033 — Bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) H5N1 — different species (bird, not bearded dragon)