Hematological and pathological features of massive hepatic necrosis in two radiated tortoises (<i>Astrochelys radiata</i>)

Abstract

Two radiated tortoises (Astrochelys radiata) exhibited anorexia and hypokinesia. In both cases, hematological and serum biochemical examinations revealed high alkaline phosphatase levels, moderately high aspartate aminotransferase levels and white blood cell counts approximately within the normal range. Despite being treated, the tortoises died 9 and 43 days after the first clinical examination. Gross pathological examinations revealed that the livers of both animals were extremely swollen and contained pale yellow necrotic tissue. Histopathological assessment revealed that the livers contained a massive area of hepatic necrosis surrounded by migration of macrophages and multinucleated giant cells. In one of the cases, severe fibrosis was observed. The present study provides reference information for similar cases in the future.

Morphological features of hepatic lipid changes in bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps), and a proposed grading system

“…Confounding factors that may have precluded a strong correlation of lipid percentage and hepatic fibrosis include cases with evidence of both hepatic lipid changes and chronic injury, infection, and neoplasia. 9,12,16,18 Overall, the final grade and severity class had a strong correlation with the percentage of lipid on image analysis, indicating that diagnostic tests aimed at quantifying hepatic lipid (such as computed tomography) could be relatively accurate to estimate the lesion severity, excluding fibrosis. A limitation of image analysis was that an additional step was required for the software to exclude the sinusoids and portal spaces which, if measured, could decrease the value artificially.…”

“…3,10,15,33 Hepatic fibrosis has been reported in reptilian species secondary to chronic injury, infection, and neoplasia, but its correlation with hepatic lipidosis has not been investigated. 9,12,16,18 While histopathology of the liver remains the gold standard for diagnosis of this disease, 33 no consensus has been reached regarding the amount of hepatic fat constituting a diagnosis of lipidosis. Current recommendations in reptiles warrant a microscopic diagnosis of hepatic lipidosis when the cytoplasm is vacuolated with lipid in more than 20% of the parenchyma; however, this threshold is not based on primary clinical or physiological assessments.…”

“…3,10,15,33 Hepatic fibrosis has been reported in reptilian species secondary to chronic injury, infection, and neoplasia, but its correlation with hepatic lipidosis has not been investigated. 9,12,16,18…”