Arterial disease of reptiles

The pathological features of arterial lesions observed in a series of 200 exotic reptiles dying in captivity are described. Macroscopic disease was noted in 18% of the animals, and a further 11% showed microscopic arterial changes. Medial calcification, secondary to a parasitic arteritis or associated with nutritional bone disease, constituted the major vascular disorder. Lipid-containing intimal lesions were both uncommon and of very limited extent; possible reasons for this low incidence are discussed.