Herpesviruses are important pathogens in tortoises and turtles, yet little is known about the epidemiology of these viruses. We analyzed herpesviruses detected by PCR in samples from captive chelonians in Europe according to virus strain, host species, year and season in which the animal was tested, and country in which the animal was kept. A total of 4,797 samples submitted to a diagnostic laboratory in Europe between January 2016 and December 2020 were evaluated. Of these, 312 (6.50%) were positive for herpesviruses. The types most commonly found were testudinid herpesvirus (TeHV)1 (143 positive, 45.83%) and TeHV3 (153 positive, 49.04%), but also included TeHV2 (1 positive, 0.32%), TeHV4 (3 positive, 0.96%), Terrapene herpesvirus 1 (7 positive, 2.24%), Trachemys herpesvirus 1 (2 positive, 0.64%), and three previously undescribed herpesviruses (0.96%). Herpesviruses were detected in chelonians in the families Testudinidae, Emydidae, Geoemydidae, and in the suborder Pleurodira. Among the species for which 100 samples or more were available, the highest proportions of positive samples (positivity rates) were found in samples from Horsfield's tortoises (Testudo horsfieldii) (14.96%), and radiated tortoises (Astrochelys radiata) (14.05%). Among tortoises (Testudinidae), viruses were most often detected in the spring, while in emydid turtles (Emydidae) they were most often detected in the summer. A comparison of the positivity rates according to country showed significant differences, with the highest rate in samples from Italy (16.01%). This study indicated possible differences in herpesvirus positivity rates depending on host species, virus strain, year of sampling, season, and country of origin. It provides useful information in further understanding fluctuations in infection rates as well as in helping to guide decision making for herpesvirus diagnostics in chelonian patients. It also provides evidence for the international dispersal of herpesviruses with their hosts through international trade.
Summary Objective: The goal of this study was to establish reference intervals for blood parameters in rabbits based on data from routine diagnostic samples. Materials and methods: Data sets from 1679–2039 values for clinical chemistry and 937–1559 values for hematological parameters were evaluated using the statistical program Reference Limit Estimator 20151017. Results: The following reference intervals were calculated for hematology: erythrocytes 4.37–7.43 × 1012 cells/l; hematocrit 0.28–0.48 l/l; hemoglobin 89.63–153.82 g/l; leucocytes 2.71–12.23 × 109 cells/l; neutrophils 0.87–7.82 × 109 cells/l; lymphocytes 0.36–6.58 × 109 cells/l; monocytes 0.08–1.71 × 109 cells/l; eosi nophils 0.07–0.19 × 109 cells/l; basophils 0.06–1.1 × 109 cells/l; thrombocytes 225.45–905.3 × 109 cells/l. Calculated intervals for clinical chemistries were: alkaline phosphatase 9.05–94.68 U/l; aspartataminotransferase 3.75–32.44 U/l; creatine kinase 1.63–559.53 U/l; γ-glutamyltransferase 2.5–14.46 U/l; glutamatdehydrogenase 0.68–14.78 U/l; fructosamin 248.08–501.43 µmol/l; bile acid 0.76–19.63 μmol/l; total protein 48.66–73.64 g/l; urea 2.63–10.28 mmol/l; creatinine 51.38–154.35 µmol/l; calcium 3.02–4.3 mmol/l; magnesium 0.66–1.51 mmol/l; phosphorus 0.54–2.18 mmol/l; sodium 132.61– 154.0 mmol/l and potassium 3.52–6.04 mmol/l. Conclusion and clinical relevance: The calculation of intervals based on a large number of routine diagnostic samples allows the establishment of labora tory specific reference intervals without the use of experimental animals.
Inclusion body disease (IBD) is caused by reptarenaviruses and constitutes one of the most notorious viral diseases in snakes. Although central nervous system disease and various other clinical signs have been attributed to IBD in boid and pythonid snakes, studies that unambiguously reveal the clinical course of natural IBD and reptarenavirus infection are scarce. In the present study, the prevalence of IBD and reptarenaviruses in captive snake collections and the correlation of IBD and reptarenavirus infection with the clinical status of the sampled snakes were investigated. In three IBD positive collections, long-term follow-up during a three-to seven-year period was performed. A total of 292 snakes (178 boas and 114 pythons) from 40 collections in Belgium were sampled. In each snake, blood and buffy coat smears were evaluated for the presence of IBD inclusion bodies (IB) and whole blood was tested for reptarenavirus RNA by RT-PCR. Of all tested snakes, 16.5% (48/292) were positive for IBD of which all were boa constrictors (34.0%; 48/141) and 17.1% (50/292) were reptarenavirus RT-PCR positive. The presence of IB could not be demonstrated in any of the tested pythons, while 5.3% (6/114) were reptarenavirus positive. In contrast to pythons, the presence of IB in peripheral blood cells in boa constrictors is strongly correlated with reptarenavirus detection by RT-PCR (P<0.0001). Although boa constrictors often show persistent subclinical infection, long-term follow-up indicated that a considerable number (22.2%; 6/27) of IBD/reptarenavirus positive boas eventually develop IBD associated comorbidities.
The metabolism of tortoises is influenced by many factors, which in turn also influences the clinical chemistry parameters in these animals. There are currently limited data available on species, sex, and season-specific reference intervals. The goal of this study was to establish new reference intervals for adult Hermann's tortoises (Testudo hermanni), which include variations according to season and sex. Lithium heparinized blood samples from 256 Hermann's tortoises were collected and biochemistry parameters (alkaline phosphatase [ALP], glutamate-dehydrogenase [GLDH], alanine-aminotransferase [ALT], aspartate-aminotransferase [AST], bile acids [BA], creatine kinase [CK], total protein [TP], albumin [Alb], urea, uric acid [UA], inorganic phosphorus [P], total calcium [Ca], sodium [Na], and potassium [K]) were measured from May 2016 to October 2017. The results showed many variations depending on sex and season. Male Hermann's tortoises had higher ALT, BA, CK, and UA concentrations, and females had higher Ca concentrations. The concentrations of BA, UA, GLDH, TP, and Alb decreased during the course of the year, and ALT increased over time in males. The present study demonstrates that it is important to establish specific reference intervals for each species that include seasonal and sex specific variations in order to facilitate correct interpretation of blood results.
Background: Nidoviruses are increasingly detected in various snake species worldwide, but much remains to be learned about their distribution and the factors influencing their epidemiology. Methods: This retrospective study evaluated the results of routine nidovirus testing, by PCR, of 5210 swab samples from pet snakes from various European countries that were submitted to a commercial veterinary laboratory in Germany between 2016 and 2021. Results: The overall detection rate was 19.96%. However, the detection rate varied significantly depending on the snake species (p < 0.0001), with the highest rate in Indian pythons (Python molurus) (42.24%). Rates also varied depending on the season of sample collection (p < 0.0001), with the highest rate in winter (24.46%), and the country of sample origin (p < 0.0001), with the highest rate in Austria (36.69%). The detection rate also decreased significantly (p = 0.0003) over the 6-year observation period, from 26.43% to 17.64%. Limitation: No information on clinical signs was available for most of the sampled snakes. Conclusion:The present study supplies new information on the distribution of python nidoviruses (subgenus Roypretovirus) in pet snakes in Europe and indicates a dynamic situation with possible changes in prevalence over time.
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