Anyone Studying Dyskinetic Syndrome?

[Lisa Baines]

As the title suggests is anyone studying this syndrome? I seem to recall someone posting on a forum about wanting carcases but I cant remember where I saw it.

I have a scorpion, namely opistophthalmus beohmi with what looks the illness and it's looking pretty bad now, twice I looked in on it today and thought it was dead!

General symptoms include inability to move properly, shaky walking, ped and metasoma movements. then when feeling insecure shakes and contorts throughout the whole body.

It hasn't burrowed since I bought it like the other two have and has failed to eat as well, so I dont think it has very long left.

So if there is anyone studying this syndrome who would like the scorpion for research please give me a shout

[Colin D Wilson]

Yup..... me.
This will be the first scorpion in the bag as it were, we've heard of scorpions getting this problem but haven't had an offer of one as yet so thats great.

When you've done all you can and the little things passed, just pop it in the post to me first class and i'll sort it out this end.
Thanks Lisa

[Lisa Baines]

oh excellent. It's sad to watch and I'm gutted I'm going to lose it so soon after buying it, but now I'm glad that it will go into research.

[Christian Elowsky]

Colin,

I've been following this collection of unexplained symptoms for a few years. I just wish someone would kick whomever uses the term "dyskinetic syndrome". It's not a "syndrome" it's a few things which cause a collection of things we can not explain, to me it's like saying unidentified flying object.

I have seen this collection of behaviors caused by dehydration, pesticide exposure, stresses and probably build up of toxins from garbage feeder insects.

Regardless we should trade notes!

Lisa, what species of scorpion is it? Often fungus will invade and kill scorpions, and it happens very very quickly. Unless of course it's a P. imperator, then it's might be the result of dehydration.

Christian

[Colin D Wilson]

Colin,

I've been following this collection of unexplained symptoms for a few years. I just wish someone would kick whomever uses the term "dyskinetic syndrome". It's not a "syndrome" it's a few things which cause a collection of things we can not explain, to me it's like saying unidentified flying object.

Wholeheartedly agree Christian, Dyskenesia is in reality a mammalian problem that occurs as a result of a reaction to certain drugs, the term "DS" has been "taken on board" for any animal with similar symptoms.
i suppose we'll have to make do with it being refered to as such for the interim.

Regardless we should trade notes!

will Pm you with all the confirmed results we have obtained, things are moving slow at the mo as we all have other projects on the go, and being unfunded.. resources suffer.

[Lisa Baines]

it's an opistophthalmus boehmi. I have 3 of them all kept in same conditions. 2 are thriving and the other hasn't been right since I got it.

They are kept in a critter keeper inside of a 3ft tank. which helps to keep temperature up and minimises exposure to stuff like polish. I usually use a damp cloth to polish anyway

it has a very small amount of mycosis in one foot, you can barely notice it, I only spotted it when I gave it a closer inspection yesterday. But it is the only spot on the whole scorpion that I can find and from what I have read so far it takes a fair amount of mycosis to kill a scorpion. And can be kept in check by raising the temperature slightly and making sure there is plenty of ventilation.

[Bruce Maclean]

Wholeheartedly agree Christian, Dyskenesia is in reality a mammalian problem that occurs as a result of a reaction to certain drugs, the term "DS" has been "taken on board" for any animal with similar symptoms.
i suppose we'll have to make do with it being refered to as such for the interim.

will Pm you with all the confirmed results we have obtained, things are moving slow at the mo as we all have other projects on the go, and being unfunded.. resources suffer.

Hi Colin,

I would be very interested in any results as well please. I'm a vet currently dealing with an outbreak of neurological signs in tarantulas in a public display, with some lab results currently pending but more animals seem to be going down with it, and any info on possible causes (we have a list of possible environmental toxicity issues, but we seem to be ruling these out with the new cases). Do you have any lab (haemolymph/PME) findings? I think pooling any such results would be very useful to all!

Best wishes,

Bruce.

[Taki Tsonis]

At least everyone knows what you're talking about when you call it DS though! .
Colin I must apologise for still never sending you my info, but it's all from memory anyway. If you still want it please tell me. Also please keep me updated on any interesting findings you might have on the matter. I will add something interesting though, I had a couple more T's die from the same symptoms and at some point I decided that it simply HAD to be from my feeder crickets! I changed over too roaches at that point and I must say I have seen a distinct improvement in my T's health since then. Prior to the roaches I would lose a T a month more or less and since the roaches I have not lost a single tarantula!!!

[Lisa Baines]

how interesting and certainly worth baring in mind. we are thinking of changing over to roaches soon.