Quick Takes

 

Study & Reading Guide

Examination Blueprint

Pre-Applicant Preparation Program

 

Reptile & Amphibian Practice Study & Reading Guide

Certification in Reptile and Amphibian Practice

Successful practice of reptile and amphibian medicine and surgery requires broad knowledge of subject areas including natural history, husbandry, anatomy, physiology, pathology, infectious disease biology, epidemiology, and pharmacology. Practitioners must apply this knowledge to species in Orders Anura, Urodela, Gymnophiona, Chelonia, Rhynchocephalia, Squamata, and Crocodylia. Little of this reptile- and amphibian-specific background information is taught in general veterinary medical curricula and new contributions are found in an array of periodicals.

The following list of publications is provided as a guide for candidates who are preparing for certification in reptile and amphibian practice. The texts and journals are recommended to assist candidates in finding species-specific information in those areas where they have limited experience or feel their knowledge is deficient. Candidates are not expected to purchase all the publications or read them in their entirety. Searching and appraisal skills are required, however, to identify information that is valid, relevant, and fundamental to the practice of reptile and amphibian medicine and surgery.

Studying with others is a good way to stay on-track. Study groups are an excellent source of support and motivation. Candidates can meet colleagues who are also studying for ABVP certification at reptile and amphibian continuing veterinary medical education seminars and in service to the Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians. Your mentor/advisor can also help facilitate the study process.

Publications are listed either as “Essential for Study” or for “Additional Study.” A greater proportion of the certifying exam questions will be derived from literature listed as “Essential for Study.” Exam questions based on periodicals will emphasize current literature of the last five years, although older references may be required to ensure fundamental information is included.

Essential Monographs

Jacobson ER. 2007. Infectious diseases and pathology of reptiles: Color atlas and text. CRC Press. 716 pages

Mader DR (ed). 2006. Reptile medicine and surgery. 2nd ed. Saunders Elsevier, St. Louis, MO.
1242 pages

Wright KM, Whitaker BR. 2001. Amphibian medicine and captive husbandry. Kreiger Publishing Company, Malabar, Florida. 570 pages

Essential Periodicals

American Journal of Veterinary Research

Journal of Herpetological Medicine and Surgery (formerly Bulletin of ARAV)

Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association

Journal of Wildlife Diseases

Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine

Additional Study

Additional Monographs

Barnard S, Upton SJ. 1994. A Veterinary Guide to the Parasites of Reptiles. Vol I: Protozoa.
Krieger Publishing Company, Malabar, FL

Barnard SM, Durden LA, Upton SJ. 2000. A Veterinary Guide to the Parasites of Reptiles. Vol II: Arthropods (Excluding Mites). Kreiger Publishing Company, Malabar FL.

Bradley-Bays T, Lightfoot TL, Mayer, JM. 2006. Exotic Pet Behavior - Birds, Reptiles and Small Mammals. Elsevier Saunders. 384 pages

Campbell T, Ellis C. 2006. Avian and Exotic Animal Hematology and Cytology. 3rd ed. Blackwell Publishing Professional. 400 pages

Deeming DC. 2004. Reptilian Incubation: Environment, Evolution, and Behavior. Nottingham University Press. 500 pages

Duellman WE, Trueb L. 1985/1986 (Reprinted 1994). Biology of Amphibians. McGraw-Hill, Inc., New York (Reprint by The Johns Hopkins University Press). 696 pages

Fowler ME (ed). 1993. Zoo Wild Animal Medicine, 3rd ed. WB Saunders Co. Philadelphia, PA

Fowler ME (ed). 1999. Zoo Wild Animal Medicine, 4th ed. WB Saunders Co. Philadelphia, PA

Fowler ME (ed). 2003. Zoo Wild Animal Medicine, 5th ed. WB Saunders Co. Philadelphia, PA

Frye FL. 1991. Biomedical and Surgical Aspects of Captive Reptile Husbandry 2nd ed. Krieger Publishing Company, Malabar, FL (also 1992. Reptile Care: an Atlas of Diseases and Treatments, TFH Publications, Neptune City, NJ). 637 pages

Fudge AM (ed). 2000. Laboratory Medicine. Avian and Exotic Pets. W.B. Saunders Co., Philadelphia, PA

Gans C, et al (eds). 1969-1998. The Biology of the Reptilia. In 19 volumes; topics include Morphology (7 vols), Physiology (5 vols), Ecology (2 vols), Neurology (3 vols), and Development (2 vols). Publishers include Academic Press, Wiley-Liss, and Society for Study of Amphibians and Reptiles

Gardner SC, Oberdorster E. 2005. Toxicology of Reptiles (New Perspectives: Toxicology and the Environment). CRC Press. 328 pages

Girling SJ, Raiti P (eds). 2004. BSAVA Manual of Reptiles. 2nd ed. British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Quedgeley, Gloucester, England. 383 pages

Heatwole H, et al. Amphibian Biology. Volumes 1–3 (Integument, Social Behavior, Sensory Perception). 1994, 1995, 1998. Surrey Beatty and Sons Pty, Ltd., Chipping Norton, Australia

Huchzermeyer FW. 2003. Crocodiles: Biology, Husbandry and Diseases. CABI Publishing. 356 pages

Jacobson ER. 2003. Biology, Husbandry and Medicine of the Green Iguana. Krieger, Malabar, FL. 216 pages

McArthur S, Wilkinson R, Meyer J. 2004. Medicine and Surgery of Turtles and Tortoises. Iowa State Press, Ames, IA. 579 pages

O’Malley B. 2005. Section two: Reptiles. Clinical Anatomy and Physiology of Exotic Species. Elsevier Saunders, Philadelphia, PA. Pages 15-93

Pough FH, Andrews RM, Cadle JE, et al. 2004. Herpetology. 3rd ed. Pearson Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ. 726 pages

Zug GR, Vitt LJ, Caldwell JP. 2001. Herpetology: An Introductory Biology of Amphibians and Reptiles. 2nd ed. Academic Press. 630 pages

Additional Periodicals

Australian Veterinary Journal

Chelonian Conservation & Biology

Comparative Medicine (formerly Laboratory Animal Science)

Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology. Part A, Molecular & Integrative Physiology

Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology. Part B, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Copeia

Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine (formerly Seminars in Avian and Exotic Pet Medicine)

Journal of Herpetology

Journal of Parasitology

Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science

Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation

Journal of Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics

Proceedings of the Annual Conference of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians

Proceedings of the Annual Conference of the Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians

Veterinary Clinical Pathology

Veterinary Clinics of North America: Exotic Animal Practice

Veterinary Microbiology

Veterinary Pathology

Veterinary Record

Zoo Biology

Questions on the examination may be taken from sources other than this list.