Fatal Septicemia Caused by Helicobacter Infection in a Pancake Tortoise (Malacochersus Tornieri)

Abstract

Abstract. Bacteria of the genus Helicobacter are associated with disease in humans and animals. Reports of infection in reptiles are very limited. In the present study, pathological findings and molecular characterization are reported for a Helicobacter species associated with septicemia in a pancake tortoise (Malacochersus tornieri). Disseminated infection resulted in regional cellulitis and edema of the head and neck, and pericarditis. Spiral bacteria were identified in cytological preparations and Warthin-Starry-stained sections of pathological lesions. Amplification of partial sequence of the 16S ribosomal gene using polymerase chain reaction identified the organism as Helicobacter and suggest that it is a novel species.

Occurrence, Diversity, and Host Association of Intestinal Campylobacter, Arcobacter, and Helicobacter in Reptiles

“…Within this cluster, three distinct clusters are separated by deep branching. Interestingly, these clusters suggest Helicobacter host association: five out of six taxa obtained from Lacertilia clustered together, whereas Helicobacter taxon 2, obtained from Testudines, clustered with a previously described Helicobacter species isolated from a pancake tortoise ( Malacochersus tornieri ) [9].…”

“…It is tempting to speculate that Cft is associated with disease, but due to the low number of animals this should be interpreted with care. Little is known about pathogenicity in reptiles of other Epsilonproteobacteria taxa, although a fatal septicemia in a pancake tortoise ( Malacochersus tornieri ), associated with a Helicobacter species related to Helicobacter taxon 2, isolated from spur-thighed tortoises ( Testudo graeca ) and Russian tortoises ( Agrionemys horsfieldii ), has been described [9]. The majority of Epsilonproteobacteria species isolated from reptiles during this study ( C .…”

“…fetus has been shown to cause infection in humans with underlying disease [12], [13]. Few bacterial species have been recognized as primary pathogens in reptiles [14], [15], and currently no cases have been reported of Campylobacter or Arcobacter species causing disease in reptiles, although a fatal septicemia in a pancake tortoise ( Malacochersus tornieri ) associated with an unidentified Helicobacter species has been described [9].…”

Biology and Diseases of Reptiles

“…Staphylococcus spp., Aeromonas hydrophila, and Vibrio alginolyticus were isolated from salt gland abscesses and ulcerative dermatitis lesions of loggerhead sea turtles (Orós et al, 2005(Orós et al, , 2011. have been identified in turtles with fatal septicemia and may be responsible for gastric lesions in this species (Stacy and Wellehan, 2010). 19.14).…”

The Other Helicobacters

“…Stacy and Wellehan [2] reported the identification of a potentially new Helicobacter species in a pancake tortoise ( Malacochersus tornieri ) diagnosed with septicemia. Spiral‐shaped organisms were detected in pathological lesions with partial 16S rDNA sequencing, indicating these were novel Helicobacter.…”