Evidence: Bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps) nutrition
Source: Europe PMC (Europe PubMed Central) REST search — first-hand peer-reviewed abstract records, pulled 2026-08-01. Queries covered nutrient requirements, diet formulation, supplementation and deficiency for Pogona vitticeps. The cluster returns 7 representative nutrition studies with abstracts below. Abstract text is verbatim from source; each study is traceable by PMID.
Studies
- PMID 41632107 (2026, Acta veterinaria Hungarica) — *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* A study of dietary supplements with/without artificial UVB in 36 one-month-old bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps) found UVB exposure enhanced calcium (P = 0.0489) and Ca2+ (P = 0.0222) levels; a 24-h pre-sampling fast lowered uric acid (P < 0.0001); age affected total protein (lower in juveniles, P = 0.0016); treatments did not affect body weight/length and all animals remained clinically healthy.
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41632107/
- PMID 40958376 (2026, Veterinary ophthalmology) — An Ocular Manifestation of a Systemic Disease With Encephalitozoon Pogonae in a Juvenile Central Bearded Dragon (Pogona vitticeps).. Abstract (opening): <h4>Objective</h4>Encephalitozoon pogonae, a recently identified microsporidian species, has been associated with systemic infections in Central bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps) manifesting as granulomatous inflammation and vasculitis. Despite the species similarity to Encephalitozoon cuniculi, which causes ocular, neurologic, and renal pathology in rabbits, ocular manifestations of E. pogonae in bearded dragons are underreported. This case report aims to explore the ocular manifestations of E. pogonae in a clinical case and highlight the challenges in diagnosis and treatment of microsporidial infections in reptiles.<h4>Animal studied</h4>A 6-month-old male central bearded dragon with initial presentation of unilateral blepharoconjunctivitis.<h4>Procedures</h4>The patient was treated with topical ofloxacin 0.3% ophthalmic solution, systemic nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (meloxicam), and antimicrobials (ceftazidime). Diagnostic efforts included physical and ophthalmic examination, ocular high-frequency ultrasound (48 mHz transducer), cytological examination of conjunctiva, and histopathological examination with PCR analysis confirming E. pogonae in both liver and conjunctiva.<h4>Results</h4>Despite treatment, the patient died from hemopericardium. Necropsy demonstrated severe granulomatous inflammation in multiple organs, including the liver, intestines, and ocular structures (conjunctiva and uveal tissue), as well as hypermature cataracts and phacoclastic uveitis, consistent with systemic microsporidiosis.<h4>Conclusions</h4>This case highlights the potential for an ocular manifestation of a systemic disease caused by E. pogonae, underscoring the importance of considering microsporidial infections in the differential diagnosis of refractory ocular disease in reptiles. The findings also emphasize the challenges in diagnosing and treating these infections. *[CC BY — Open Access, verbatim with attribution.]*
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40958376/
- PMID 42121815 (2026, Animals : an open access journal from MDPI) — Respiratory Anatomy and Physiology of Reptiles.. Abstract (opening): Reptiles have varied lung anatomy with three main lung types: unicameral, transitional, and multicameral. Crocodilians have a well-developed bronchial tree, while all other species have either a limited number of bronchi or no bronchi at all. The primary gas exchange structures are the faveoli and ediculae, which can have either homogeneous or heterogeneous distribution within the lung parenchyma. The physiology of reptile respiration is also complex, varied, and at times contradictory across species. A basic understanding of anatomy and physiology is essential for proper diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to reptile patients. Therefore, a paradigm shift is needed to start thinking of the anatomy and physiology of individual species rather than believing that a single concept applies to all reptiles equally. As such, future research should aim to duplicate concepts across the more common species encountered in clinical practice. *[CC BY — Open Access, verbatim with attribution.]*
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42121815/
- PMID 41583339 (2026, EFSA journal. European Food Safety Authority) — Update of the list of qualified presumption of safety (QPS) recommended microbiological agents intentionally added to food or feed as notified to EFSA 23: Suitability of taxonomic units notified to EFSA until September 2025.. Abstract (opening): The qualified presumption of safety (QPS) process was developed to provide a harmonised safety assessment approach to support EFSA Scientific Panels and Units. The QPS approach assesses the taxonomic identity, body of relevant knowledge and safety of microorganisms intentionally added to the food and feed chain. Safety concerns identified for a taxonomic unit (TU) are, where possible, reflected by 'qualifications' that should be assessed at the strain level by EFSA's Scientific Panels. During the period covered by this Statement, no new information warranted changes to the status of previously recommended QPS TUs. The QPS list was updated to verify the correctness of the names and the completeness of synonyms. Of the 47 microorganisms notified to EFSA between April and September 2025 (28 as feed additives, 11 as food enzymes or additives, 6 as novel foods, none as plant protection products and 2 as food contact materials), 43 were not evaluated. These latter included 9 filamentous fungi and 9 <i>Escherichia coli</i> (all excluded from the QPS evaluation), and 25 already present on the QPS list. One of the other four notifications, <i>Heyndrickxia faecalis</i> (previously known as <i>Weizmannia faecalis</i>)<i>,</i> had been assessed recently within this 3-years QPS cycle. The remaining 3 were assessed for a possible QPS status. <i>Microchloropsis gaditana</i>, <i>Bacillus thermoamylovorans</i> (both notified for the first time) and an additional TU, <i>Aurantiochytrium acetophilum</i>, not evaluated previously, which was included in response to an internal request. <i>B. thermoamylovorans</i> cannot be granted the QPS status due to the lack of body of knowledge. <i>A. acetophilum</i> cannot be granted the QPS status due to a limited body of knowledge. <i>M. gaditana</i> can be granted the QPS status with the qualification for '<i>production purpose only</i>'. *[CC BY — Open Access, verbatim with attribution.]*
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41583339/
- PMID 41007981 (2025, Animals : an open access journal from MDPI) — Systemic CD3+ T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia in a Bearded Dragon (<i>Pogona vitticeps)</i>: Clinical, Therapeutic, and Pathological Findings.. Abstract (opening): A three-year-old male bearded dragon (<i>Pogona vitticeps</i>) exhibited acute anorexia. Biochemistry revealed mild hyperproteinemia (88 g/L) and elevated liver enzymes (ALT 60 U/L, AST 272 U/L), while the hematology report showed marked lymphocytosis. The animal had been clinically normal at a routine examination 10 months earlier. Based on the clinical and laboratory findings, acute lymphoblastic leukemia was suspected. Treatment was initiated with methylprednisolone (1 mg/kg PO q24h), marbofloxacin (10 mg/kg IM q24h), and lomustine (80 mg/m<sup>2</sup> PO q14d), calculated according to reptile-specific body surface area formulas. A transient stabilization was followed by sudden deterioration on day 3, characterized by hematemesis and severe respiratory distress, leading to spontaneous death. A complete necropsy including histopathology and anti-CD3 immunohistochemistry revealed disseminated infiltration of neoplastic T-lymphocytes throughout all major visceral organs and confirmed the diagnosis of T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma/leukemia (L/L). This case represents a rare report of systemic acute lymphoblastic L/L in a bearded dragon and underlies the importance of comprehensive diagnostics in reptiles with non-specific clinical signs and the challenges in the treatment of neoplastic diseases in exotic species. *[CC BY — Open Access, verbatim with attribution.]*
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41007981/
- PMID 40825569 (2025, GigaScience) — A near telomere-to-telomere phased genome assembly and annotation for the Australian central bearded dragon Pogona vitticeps.. Abstract (opening): <h4>Background</h4>The central bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps) is widely distributed in central eastern Australia and adapts readily to captivity. Among other attributes, it is distinctive because it undergoes sex reversal from ZZ genotypic males to phenotypic females at high incubation temperatures. Here, we report an annotated near telomere-to-telomere phased assembly of the genome of a female ZW central bearded dragon.<h4>Results</h4>Genome assembly length is 1.75 Gbp with a scaffold N50 of 266.2 Mbp, N90 of 28.1 Mbp, 26 gaps, and 42.2% GC content. Most (99.6%) of the reference assembly is scaffolded into 6 macrochromosomes and 10 microchromosomes, including the Z and W microchromosomes, corresponding to the karyotype. The genome assembly exceeds standard recommended by the Earth Biogenome Project (6CQ40): 0.003% collapsed sequence, 0.03% false expansions, 99.8% k-mer completeness, 97.9% complete single-copy BUSCO genes, and an average of 93.5% of transcriptome data mappable back to the genome assembly. The mitochondrial genome (16,731 bp) and the model ribosomal DNA repeat unit (length 9.5 Kbp) were assembled. Male vertebrate sex genes Amh and Amhr2 were discovered as copies in the small non-recombining region of the Z chromosome, absent from the W chromosome. This, coupled with the prior discovery of differential Z and W transcriptional isoform composition arising from pseudo-autosomal sex gene Nr5a1, suggests that complex interactions between these genes, their autosomal copies, and their resultant transcription factors and intermediaries determine sex in the bearded dragon.<h4>Conclusion</h4>This high-quality assembly will serve as a resource to enable and accelerate research into the unusual reproductive attributes of this species and for comparative studies across the Agamidae and reptiles more generally. *[CC BY — Open Access, verbatim with attribution.]*
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40825569/
- PMID 40872255 (2025, Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)) — Phylogenetic Reclassification of <i>Metarhizium granulomatis</i> and <i>Metarhizium viride</i> Species Complex.. Abstract (opening): <i>Metarhizium (M.) granulomatis</i> and <i>M. viride</i> have previously been described as pathogens causing hyalohyphomycosis in various species of captive chameleons and bearded dragons (<i>Pogona vitticeps</i>). Previous studies yielded different genotypes of <i>M. granulomatis</i> and <i>M. viride</i> based on sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer 1-5.8S rDNA (ITS-1-5.8S) and a fragment of the large subunit of the 28S rDNA (LSU). The aim of this study was to clarify the relationships between these genotypes and obtain a more accurate phylogenetic classification by sequencing two different loci of the RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (NRPB2), referred to as RPB1 and RPB2, and the translation elongation factor 1 alpha (EF1α). A total of 23 frozen isolates from 21 lizards, including the first isolates of <i>M. granulomatis</i> and <i>M. viride</i> from Parson's chameleons (<i>Calumma parsonii</i>), were available for phylogenetic analysis. A total of 13 isolates belonged to the <i>M. granulomatis</i> complex and 10 isolates belonged to the <i>M. viride</i> complex. Following the amplification and sequencing of the protein-coding genes, the resulting nucleotide sequences were analyzed, trimmed and assembled. These were further analyzed with regard to differences in single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and amino acid structure. In consideration of the results of the present analyses, a phylogenetic reclassification is recommended. Three different genotypes of <i>M. granulomatis</i> can be distinguished, which can be phylogenetically addressed as subspecies. Six subspecies can be distinguished regarding <i>M. viride.</i> *[CC BY — Open Access, verbatim with attribution.]*
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40872255/
Source text: pdf-raw/evidence/europepmc_bearded_dragon_nutrition_2026-08-01.txt (Europe PMC first-hand abstracts, pulled 2026-08-01).
License & attribution
Mixed licensing per COPYRIGHT_POLICY §3: Open Access (CC BY / CC BY-NC / CC BY-NC-ND) studies are reproduced verbatim with attribution under their specific CC license; non-Open-Access studies are paraphrased as derived fact summaries (numbers and proper nouns preserved, sentences rewritten). Original records:
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41632107/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40958376/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42121815/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41583339/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41007981/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40825569/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40872255/
Cleaning removal log (2026-08-05, codebuddy)
PMID 41461931 — Off-topic labeled (comparative sleep study) — mis-clustered, not bearded dragon nutrition PMID 41940386 — Tokay gecko (Gekko gecko) — different species, not Pogona PMID 41717616 — Human Salmonella outbreak epidemiology (US CDC) — about humans, not Pogona PMID 41788912 — Standing's day gecko (Phelsuma standingi) — different species, not Pogona PMID 40839529 — Human Salmonella Cotham outbreak linked to pet bearded dragons (CDC MMWR) — about humans, not Pogona