Demography and veterinary care of reptiles attending primary-care veterinary practices in England

Abstract

OBJECTIVESHerpesviruses and mycoplasma have been frequently described in chelonians, particularly tortoises. Both are associated with disease of the upper respiratory and digestive systems, both have also been described in clinically healthy animals, and both are able to cause persistent infections in affected animals. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of both pathogens in samples from tortoises and aquatic turtles submitted to a diagnostic laboratory in Europe. METHODSStandard PCR methods were used for the detection of herpesviruses and mycoplasma, samples included oral swabs and nasal washes as well as various tissues and were obtained from both clinically ill and apparently healthy animals. A total of 1015 chelonians were included. RESULTSOf the 1015 animals tested, 427 (42.1%) were positive for mycoplasma, 82 (8.1%) were herpesvirus positive. Mixed infections were detected in 51 animals (5.0%). Mixed infections were particularly common in Russian tortoises (Testudo horsfieldii) (22.6% of the animals tested). Characterization of the herpesviruses detected showed 47.6% testudinid herpesvirus (TeHV) 1, 53.7% TeHV3, a single case of TeHV4, and one previously undescribed herpesvirus. STATEMENTThese findings demonstrate the importance of these infectious agents and their diagnosis in pet turtles and tortoises. Mycoplasma are extremely common in these animals and there has been a shift in prevalences of specific types of herpesviruses in tortoises in Europe. This may reflect effects of the pet trade on the epidemiology of infectious diseases. Demography OBJECTIVESThis study aimed to use the VetCompass database as a novel source of health and management data on pet reptiles. METHODSThe VetCompass Programme of primary-care veterinary clinical records was used to identify a study population of 1,663 reptiles attending 191 veterinary practices in England from

Are we letting our reptile patients down?

“…The average number of reptiles presented to practices without vets that have a specific interest is probably very small, perhaps a handful per year 4‐6 . Given the variety of even the most commonly kept reptile species, and their varied husbandry requirements, it would be difficult for vets in such practices to become competent even in their basic care and maintain the relevant knowledge.…”