THE ACUTE-PHASE RESPONSE IN THE SUDAN PLATED LIZARD, GERRHOSAURUS MAJOR

The Sudan plated lizard (Gerrhosaurus major), previously reported to b e an afebrile species, was utilized in a series of experiments to test for various aspects of the acute phase response. Treatment. of indivi duals with the antibiotic Baytril resulted in a slight (0.5 degrees C) but significant reduction in mean selected body temperature (MSBT), w hile treatment with saline did not lower MSBT. Nonantibiotic treatment individuals had depressed plasma iron levels (06.6 +/- 22.4 mu g Fe 1 00 ml(-1) plasma) and treatment with Baytril produced a significant in crease in plasma iron concentration (186.8 +/- 19.5 mu g Fe 100 ml(-1) plasma). Necropsy of randomly selected individuals indicated that ani mals obtained from the commercial supplier had Aeromonas, Arthrobacter , Pseudomonas and Salmonella infections and antibiotic treatment elimi nated these infections. The growth rate of Aeromonas sobria is reduced when the bacteria are grown at 32 degrees C and reduced iron concentr ation compared to 34.5 degrees C and low iron concentration, which sug gests that a fever response may not be beneficial in reducing bacteria l growth. Saline injected, bacteria injected and antibiotic injected G errhosaurus major have high plasma zinc concentrations compared to the previously studied febrile species, Dipsosaurus dorsalis. This differ ence suggests that zinc concentrations in afebrile species deserve fur ther study. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.