Phyllomedusa azurea - Brown Spot Appeared and Raised Lump

[MantellaGuy]

Hi all,

My partner noticed today that one of her Phyllomedusa azurea individuals has a raised bump appear on it's forearm, adjacent elbow, which has also got a small brown spot too. Here are a few photos of it, unfortunately, it's just a mobile picture but should be able to get clearer ones later.





Unfortunately, I am stumped with this as I haven't personally seen anything like it before, so I am asking all you kind folks for some help, which would be muchly appreciated.

I looked this up in several books and also online and found no illness resembling such a thing, any ideas?

Many thanks in advance!

Josh

[MantellaGuy]

Hi all,

Was reminded that the individual also has a smallish bump in the dead center of its head, as you can see from the photographs;





Yet again, no information available, any ideas?

Many thanks

[MantellaGuy]

Lots of people viewing but no posting? Really could do with some help!

[Mentat]

Hi Josh! My recommendation would be to take frog to a veterinary with herp experience. Also, would isolate from others in a hospital type enclosure. Cysts like that could be localized bacterial infections or parasites growing under the skin. Can you ask your friend if the cysts feel solid or fluid like? Thank you !

[Lija]

It reminds me very recent my own experience..... Please dont handle a frog and anything that you use for it with bare hands for now till you know what is it. If you have more frogs keep everything you use for this tank separately. Full on quarantine!

Now please answer to trouble in the enclosure questions here and especially, was the tank you use for the frog new or previously used, and if so - what was in there before? Do you have live plants in there and how did you prepare them before placing inside terrarium? Do you have a fish tank at home?
while you are answering these questions - look for a vet in your area.

[MantellaGuy]

Hi Josh! My recommendation would be to take frog to a veterinary with herp experience. Also, would isolate from others in a hospital type enclosure. Cysts like that could be localized bacterial infections or parasites growing under the skin. Can you ask your friend if the cysts feel solid or fluid like? Thank you !

Hi Buddy,

Veterinarian assistance was always going to happen so that's all good, as this was noticed only last night, the specimen obviously couldn't be taken to the specialist Veterinarian so had to wait till today (She loves the animals too much to not give them required attention, which is greatt in my opinion). It is pretty solid and was described to be almost Black-head like or very similar to a Human spot.

Cheers mate

It reminds me very recent my own experience..... Please dont handle a frog and anything that you use for it with bare hands for now till you know what is it. If you have more frogs keep everything you use for this tank separately. Full on quarantine!

Thank you currently waiting for some Non-latex/vinyl gloves to be delivered as I ordered some last night. Strict QT & ISO procedures will be followed for the next few days until an Veterinarian is seen, and after hearing their diagnosis, a further strict ISO period will be put in place.

Now please answer to trouble in the enclosure questions here and especially, was the tank you use for the frog new or previously used, and if so - what was in there before? Do you have live plants in there and how did you prepare them before placing inside terrarium? Do you have a fish tank at home?
while you are answering these questions - look for a vet in your area.

All that these animals are in are matured terrariums, shes had these specimens for 2 years and had no problems (They were almost like rescues due to the poor husbandry they were receiving in the shop) until last night. No live plants in the terrarium at all, and no Aquarium is in the house at all either.

Many thanks in advance,

[Lija]

Glad you answered the way you did, hopefully it is gonna be all right, please update us after you see vet.

[MantellaGuy]

Glad you answered the way you did, hopefully it is gonna be all right, please update us after you see vet.

Thank you A Veterinarian was seen a couple of hours ago and the Diagnosis was the same that I and my partner had diagnosed ourselves last night (obviously before anyone commented). It is a very tiny bacterial infection that was/is only minor and can be treated with a course of Batryll baths for the next few weeks, so the individual is being placed under strict QT & ISO procedures until the course is reviewed in a few weeks time.

We would still like peoples opinions on this as the Veterinarian was still unsure as to the exact nature of the infection, and is still going to be seeking information from other Amphibian specialist Vets.

[Lija]

That is not tiny infection! That is quite large in comparison to a size of a frog and i dont like the localization of it on a head and a fact you say it is pretty solid. I dont worry about the one on the elbow, it looks like typical ruptured abscess.

Has your vet opened it up? And if so - what did he see? Did he send it to the lab? If not i would insist he do so. It could be a few things, it can be intermittent form of tapeworm ( is a frog wc ir cb?), it is common in wc whites, but not so much in phyllomedusa genius. The other thing - infection that due to its size i would open up and use local and systemic antibiotics. And make sure hystopathology is done asap. The reason being there is a zoonotic bacteria that presents very similar and although you answered no to all my specific questions there is still a chance a frog has that particular bacterial or similar.
It could also be an abnormal cell growth.
I dont want to scare you, but please just make sure until you know it is safe not to have any contact with your skin or anything in your collection.
It is better be safe then sorry

[MantellaGuy]

That is not tiny infection! That is quite large in comparison to a size of a frog and i dont like the localization of it on a head and a fact you say it is pretty solid. I dont worry about the one on the elbow, it looks like typical ruptured abscess.

Oh you were referring to the Head Bump? When I was referring to it being pretty solid, that was in reference to the elbow which is what we were talking about, sorry for the confusion. You made no specification as to which part of the body you were talking about. The head bump is soft, as if full of air or fluid.

Has your vet opened it up? And if so - what did he see? Did he send it to the lab? If not i would insist he do so. It could be a few things, it can be intermittent form of tapeworm ( is a frog wc ir cb?), it is common in wc whites, but not so much in phyllomedusa genius. The other thing - infection that due to its size i would open up and use local and systemic antibiotics. And make sure hystopathology is done asap. The reason being there is a zoonotic bacteria that presents very similar and although you answered no to all my specific questions there is still a chance a frog has that particular bacterial or similar.
It could also be an abnormal cell growth.
I dont want to scare you, but please just make sure until you know it is safe not to have any contact with your skin or anything in your collection.
It is better be safe then sorry

The bump was nothing according to the Vet however he is still referring this to other vets, like I said in my previous message. They are an extremely good veterinarian practice specialising in Herpetology and teach students as it is also part of a university, however he is still seeking external opinions. But he has said to monitor this as they suspect that this will go down while on the course of Batryll 2.5%
You haven't scared me at all, as it is being referred with professional help so it isn't being left And like I said above in another comment -

Strict QT & ISO procedures will be followed for the next few days until an Veterinarian is seen, and after hearing their diagnosis, a further strict ISO period will be put in place.

- I work within a professional collection myself so you don't need to worry about QT & ISO procedures, as I am very rigorous with them and certainly strict. So all is good with that department

Certainly is better to be safe than sorry I do agree

[Lija]

I really like your attitude! And very glad you have great vet!

I feel I overreacted, but having dealt what had recently and seeing so many people on there underestimating danger I guess would be my excuse I hope it all go away fast and it is nothing serious. Please update us on a progress.

[MantellaGuy]

I really like your attitude! And very glad you have great vet!

I feel I overreacted, but having dealt what had recently and seeing so many people on there underestimating danger I guess would be my excuse I hope it all go away fast and it is nothing serious. Please update us on a progress.

Thank you very much

You haven't at all, it's always good to be wary at the end of the day That is unfortunately the case for many keepers, but I like to have a balance in diagnosing anything in regards to my animals (even if I do panic more when it comes to my partners animals lol). I think this bump is a minor aliment attributed to this bacterium, but it's always best to be safe! Shall let you know when we have found out what the Vet does with the investigation

Thank you so much for helping, remember to keep posting any ideas!!