Dr. Mark Mitchell’s Research

Fluker Farms is proud to fund and sponsor Dr. Mitchell in his research. Dr. Mitchell is currently a Professor of Zoological Medicine at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge in the College of Veterinary Medicine and has been a consultant for Fluker's for more than 20 years, helping and providing input for product development as well as helping our staff learn the most that they can about reptile care. After all, Fluker Farms is, first and foremost, a business of educating people on breeding and raising reptiles and feeder insects.

Here we have gathered all of Dr. Mitchell’s papers that have been funded by Fluker's:

  1. Barras E, Boykin K, Aguilar G, Lex Z, Bitter A, Mitchell MA*. Dubia roaches (Blapticadubia): Food for insectivores made better by gut loading with a high calcium commercial diet. J Herpetol Med Surg, September 2024 
  2. Perry SM, Camlic S, Konsker I, Lierz M, Mitchell MA*. Effects of Exogenous hCG Administration on Plasma Testosterone and Semen Production in the Veiled Chameleons (Chamaeleocalyptratus). J Herpetol Med Surg, 23(3):180-191, 2023. 
  3. Molitor L, Rockwell K, Gould A, Mitchell MA*. Effects of Short Duration Artificial Ultraviolet B Exposure on 25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 Concentrations in Domestic Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Animals, 13(8): 1307, 2023. 
  4. Aguilar G, Mitchell MA*. Reptile Dermatology. Vet Clin N Am Exotic Animal, 26(2): 409-424, 2023. 
  5. Perry SM, Camlic S, Konsker I, Lierz M, Mitchell MA*. Characterizing the Annual Reproductive Cycles of Captive Male Veiled Chameleons (Chamaeleocalyptratus) and Panther Chameleons (Furcifer pardalis). J Herpetol Med Surg, 33(1):45-60, 2023. 
  6. Hoskins A, Thompson D, Mitchell MA*.Effects of artificial ultraviolet B radiation on plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 concentrations in juvenile Blanding's turtles (Emydoideablandingii). J Herp Med Surgery, 32 (3): 225–229, 2022. 
  7. Perry SM, Mitchell MA*.Reptileassisted reproductive technologies: Can ART help conserve 300 million years of evolution by preserving extant reptile biodiversity?’ --Reproduction, Development and Fertility, Mar;34(5):385-400, 2022.  
  8. Mason A, Perry SM, Mitchell MA*.Plasma and tissue enzyme activities in banded water snakes (Nerodiafasciata) and diamondback water snakes (Nerodiarhombifer). Am J Vet Res, Jan 1:1-10, 2022. 
  9. Perry SM, Mitchell MA*. Sex, drugs, and rock iguanas: Testicular dynamics and plasma testosterone concentrations could predict optimal semen collection times in Cyclura. Reprod, Fertility, and Develop, 34(5):417-427, 2022. 
  10. Boykin K, Bitter A, Mitchell MA*.Using a Commercial Gut-Loading Diet to Create a Positive Calcium to Phosphorus Ratio in Mealworms (Tenebrio molitor). J Herp Med Surg, 31(4): 302-306, 2021. 
  11. Dehghanpir SD, Boudreaux B, Withers S, Izquierdo A, Saki E, Del Piero F, Mitchell MA. Chemotherapy-Responsive Acute Myeloid Leukemia in a Veiled Chameleon (Chamaeleocalyptratus). J Herp Med Surg, 31(4): 257-263, 2021.  
  12. Mason A, Perry SM, Mitchell MA*.Measuring the effects of a single dose of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) on plasma testosterone concentrations in leopard geckos (Eublepharismacularius). J Herp Med Surg, 31(3): 197-203, 2021. 
  13. Mason, AK, Lee J, Perry SM, Boykin KL, Del Piero F, Lierz M, Mitchell MA*. Determining the effects of serial injections of pregnant mare serum gonadotropin on plasma testosterone concentrations, testicular dynamics, and semen production in leopard geckos (Eublepharismacularius).Animals, 2021, 11, 2477. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11092477 
  14. Rockwell K, Boykin K, Padlo J, Ford C, Aschebrock S, Mitchell MA*.Evaluating the efficacy of alfaxalone in corn snakes (Pantherophisguttatus). Vet Anesth Anal, 48: 364-371, 2021. 
  15. Boykin K, Mitchell MA*. Evaluation of vitamin A gutloading in black soldier fly larvae (Hermetiaillucens). Zoo Biol, 40(2):142-149, 2021 
  16. Walden M, Mitchell MA*.Pathogenesis of Isosporaamphiboluriin bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps). Animals, 11(2), 438; doi:10.3390/ani11020438, 2021 
  17. Boykin K, Mitchell MA*. The value of black soldier fly larvae (Hermetiaillucens) as a food source: A review. J Herp Med Surg, 31(1): 95-106, 2021. 
  18. Perry SM, Acierno MA, Mitchell MA*. Measuring the level of agreement between osmometer and calculated plasma osmolalities in two species of chameleons, Furcifer pardalis and Chamaeleocalyptratus. J Herp Med Surg, 31(1): 130-137, 2021. 
  19. Boykin KL, Carter RT,  Butler-Perez K,  Buck CQ, Peters JW, Rockwell KE,  Mitchell MA*. Digestibility of black soldier fly larvae (Hermetiaillucens) fed to leopard geckos (Eublepharismacularius). PLoS One, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0232496, 2020. 
  20. Boykin K, Butler-Perez K, Buck CO, Peters J, Mitchell MA*.Development of a Novel Insect-Based Sausage Diet for Snakes. J Herp Med Surg, 30(4): 129-136, 2020. 
  21. Perry S, Konsker I, Lierz M, Mitchell MA*. Determining the safety of repeated electroejaculations in veiled chameleons (Chamaeleo calyptratus). J Zoo Wildl Med, 50(3): 557-569, 2019.
  22. Watson MK, Flower J, Welle KR, Kohles M, Webster D, Purdeu H, Mitchell MA*. Effects of natural ultraviolet radiation on 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 concentrations in female guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus)). J Exotic Pet Med, 28: 1-5, 2019. 
  23. Watson MK, Stern AW, Labelle AL, Joslyn S, Fan TM, Lesiter K, Kohles M, Marshall K, Mitchell MA.* Evaluating the clinical and physiological effects of long term ultraviolet B radiation in rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). J Exotic Pet Med, 28: 43-55, 2019. 
  24. Rockwell KE, Thompson D, Maddox C, Mitchell MA*. Blanding's turtles (Emydoideablandingii) as a reservoir for Leptospira spp. PLoS One, Jun 6;14(6):e0210688. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0210688. eCollection, 2019. 
  25. Gould A, Molitor L, Rockwell K, Watson A, Mitchell MA*.  Evaluating the Physiologic Effects of Short Duration Ultraviolet B Radiation Exposure in Leopard Geckos (Eublepharismacularius). J Herp Med Surg. 28(1), (1 January 2018) https://doi.org/10.5818/17-11-136.1 
  26. Flower JE, Norton TM, Andrews KM, Parker CE, Romero LM, Rockwell KE, Mitchell MA*. Baseline corticosterone, hematology, and biochemistry results and correlations to reproductive success in nesting loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta). J Zoo Wildl Med. Mar;49(1):9-17, 2018. 
  27. Zimmerman DM, Mitchell MA*. Semen collection and ejaculate characteristics of the leopard tortoise (Stigmochelys pardalis). Cons Physiol, 5: 10.1093/conphys/cox062, 2017. 
  28. Bugman AM, Langer PT, Hadzima E, Rivas AE, Mitchell MA*. Evaluation of the anesthetic efficacy of alfaxalone in oscar fish (Astronotus ocellatus). Mar;77(3):239-244, 2016.
  29. Watson MA, Stewart K, Norton TM, Mitchell MA*.Evaluating environmental and climatic influences on nesting in leatherback sea turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) in St. Kitts, West Indies. J Herp Med Surg, 25(3-4), (1 December 2015) https://doi.org/10.5818/1529-9651-25.3.122. 
  30. Grimm K, Mitchell MA*, Thompson D, Maddox C. Seroprevalence of Leptospira spp. in Blanding’s turtles (Emydoideablandingii) from DuPage county, Illinois USA. J Herp Med Surg , 25(1-2), 2015
  31. Flower JF, Norton TM, Andrews KM, Nelson SE, Parker CE, Romero M, Mitchell MA.*  Baseline plasma corticosterone, hematologic, and biochemistry results in nesting and rehabilitating loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta). ConservPhysiol, 3 (1): cov003  doi:10.1093/conphys/cov003 published online March 1, 2015 
  32. Moore AR, Allender MC, Mitchell MA, MacNeill AL. Evaluation of plasma fibrinogen concentration as a diagnostic indicator of inflammation in red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans).J Am Vet Med Assoc, 246(2): 245-253, 2015. 
  33. Sanders SJ, Mitchell MA*, Whittington JK, Allender MC, Welle KW. Effects of artificial ultraviolet radiation on serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 concentrations in captive guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus). J Exotic Pet Med, 24, 464-469, 2015. 
  34. Watson MW, Mitchell MA.*Vitamin D and ultraviolet B radiation considerations for exotic pets. J Exotic Pet Med. 2014; 23(4):369-379. 
  35. Evans EE, Mitchell MA*, Whittington JK, Roy A, Tully TN, Jr. Measuring the level of agreement between cloacal gram stains and bacterial culture in Hispaniolan parrots (Amazona ventralis). J Avian Med Surg . 2014; 28(4): 290-297. 
  36. Watson MK, Stern AW, Labelle AL, Joslyn S, Fan TM, Lesiter K, Kohles M, Marshall K, Mitchell MA.* Evaluating the clinical and physiological effects of long term ultraviolet B radiation in guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus).PLoS One.2014; 9(12): e114413. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0114413 
  37. Rivas AE, Mitchell MA*, Flower J, Welle KR, Whittington JK. Effects of ultraviolet radiation on serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations in captive chinchillas (Chinchilla laniger). J Exot Pet Med. 2014; 23(3):270-276. 
  38. Zachariah TT, Mitchell MA*, Watson M, Clark-Price SC, McMichael MA. Sevoflurane anesthesia and hemolymph blood gas analysis of Chilean rose tarantulas (Grammastola rosea). Am J Vet Res.2014; 75(6):521-526. 
  39. Emerson JA, Whittington JK, Allender MC, Mitchell MA.* Effects of ultraviolet radiation produced from artificial lights on serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations in captive domestic rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculi). Am J Vet Res.2014; 75(4):380-384. 
  40. Langer P, Mitchell MA*. Diagnostic challenge: Swim bladder disease in a goldfish. J Exotic Pet Med.  2013; 22(2): 228-232. 
  41. Zimmerman D, Mitchell MA*, Heggem B. Collection and characterization of semen from green iguanas (Iguana iguana). Am J Vet Res. 2013; 74(12): 1536-1541. 
  42. Labelle A, Steele K, Breaux C, Mitchell MA. Tonometry and corneal aesthesiometry in the red-earled slider (Trachmeys scripta elegans). J Herp Med Surg. 2013; 22(1-2):30-35.   
  43. Walden M, Mitchell MA.* Evaluation of three treatment modalities against Isosporaamphiboluri in inland bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps). J Exotic Pet Med. 2012; 21 (3): 213-218. 
  44. Burdick SB, Mitchell MA*, Neil J, Heggem B, Whittington JK, Acierno MJ. Evaluation of two-point of care meters and a portable chemistry analyzer for measurement of blood glucose concentrations in juvenile white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2012; 240 (5): 596-599. 
  45. Guzman-Migallon D, Mitchell MA*, Acierno MJ. 2011. Determination of plasma osmolality and agreement between measured and calculated values in captive male adult corn snakes (Pantherophisguttatusguttatus). J Herp Med Surg 21 (1): 16-19. 
  46. Dallwig RK, Mitchell MA*, Acierno MJ. 2011. Determination of plasma osmolality and agreement between measured and calculated values in healthy adult bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps). J Herp Med Surg 20 (2-3): 69-73. 
  47. Burgdorf-Moisuk A, Mitchell MA*, Watson M. 2011. Clinical and physiologic effects of sodium chloride baths in goldfish (Carassius auratus). J Zoo Wild Med 42(4): 586-592. 
  48. Ahlers AA, Mitchell MA*, Schooley RL, Heske EJ. 2011. Hematologic and blood chemistry reference values for free-ranging riparian muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus), J Wild Dis, 47(3): 685-689 
  49. Kirchgessner M, Mitchell MA*, Domenzain L, Walden M, Dickens M, Romero M. 2010. Evaluating the effect of leuprolide acetate on testosterone levels in captive male green iguanas (Iguana iguana). J Herp Med Surg 19(4): 128-131. 
  50. Zachariah T, Mitchell MA*, Serra V, Johnson M, Dickens MJ, Romero M. 2010. Acute corticosterone stress response to handling in four captive gopher tortoises, Gopherus polyphemus. J Herp Med Surg 19(2): 50-56  
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