Turtles, Tortoises, and Terrapins

Boyer, Thomas H.; Boyer, Donal M.

doi:10.1016/b0-72-169327-x/50011-0

Cited by 40 publications

(46 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…Shell rot, that is, ulcerations of the shell that may be initiated by disease, toxicity, nutritional deficiency or trauma but are usually colonised by bacteria or fungus (Boyer 2006), occurred in 38% (21/56) of the examined Emydura macquarii krefftii. They were active in almost all cases, exceeding figures reported for healthy sites of the Burnett Catchment ) but consistent with sites of suspected disease outbreaks (Tucker et al 2002).…”

Section: Clinical Abnormalities In Unhealthy Turtlesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biochemical and hematological reference intervals for Krefft’s turtles Emydura macquarii krefftii from the Burnett River Catchment, Australia

Flint¹,

Limpus²,

Limpus³

et al. 2011

Dis. Aquat. Org.

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Biochemical and hematological reference intervals have not previously been reported for Emydura macquarii krefftii. In 2009, 56 E. m. krefftii were captured by hand from the Burnett Catchment, clinically assessed to determine health status and blood sampled. Reference intervals were calculated from the 35 clinically healthy turtles using techniques established in other chelonid species. Aberrant blood results were identified from the 21 clinically unhealthy turtles. Low numbers of observed cases of creatine kinase, glucose, magnesium, phosphorus and uric acid outside of the blood biochemistry reference interval were recorded, as were high numbers of observed cases of estimated eosinophils, thrombocytes and total leukocyte counts outside of the hematological reference interval. Lesions of the shell and plastron (shell rot) were observed in 38% (21/56) of the examined healthy and unhealthy turtles. Microbiological assessment of a subsample (n = 7) of these lesions grew Aeromonas veronii 100% (7/7), Aeromonas hydrophila 29% (2/7) and Acinetobacter baumannii 14% (1/7). Of the examined turtles, 13% (7/56) had evidence of opacity of the lens or anterior chamber of the eye and 70% (39/56) had erythema of the neck, axillary and inguinal soft tissues. Not all observed cases of erythema were associated with clinical ill-health. The anomalous blood results and clinical findings identified in this study suggest disease processes which may have resulted from causative agents in the surrounding environment.KEY WORDS: Aeromonas · Blood biochemistry · Disease · Environmental factor · Hematology · Emydura macquarii krefftii · Shell rot Resale or republication not permitted without written consent of the publisherDis Aquat Org 95: [43][44][45][46][47][48] 2011 Emydura macquarii krefftii (Grey 1871) is an Australian native turtle found in Queensland east of the Great Dividing Range from the Cape York Peninsula southward to Cape Charlotte Bay. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism, with females being larger than males. Mating takes place in autumn, late winter and spring, and nesting from September to January. The eggs are white, hard-shelled, and ellipsoidal and normal clutch size may vary from 4 to 18 eggs. Longevity has not been determined (Cann 1978, Legler & Cann 1980, Georges 1983.This study has been initiated in response to a perceived increase in the numbers of free-ranging freshwater turtles in poor body condition in the Burnett River and associated deaths of some of these turtles. Intermittent studies of Emydura macquarii krefftii river turtle populations in the Burnett Catchment in Queensland have been undertaken since 1994 (Tucker et al. 2000, Hamann et al. 2007, Hamann et al. 2008 (DERM unpubl. data).Causes for these recent events are believed to be of environmental origin but, in the absence of baseline data such as blood biochemical and hematological reference intervals and reported 'background' pathogens, determining the causative agent is speculative.The aims of this study were to develop reference i...

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Section: Clinical Abnormalities In Unhealthy Turtlesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biochemical and hematological reference intervals for Krefft’s turtles Emydura macquarii krefftii from the Burnett River Catchment, Australia

Flint¹,

Limpus²,

Limpus³

et al. 2011

Dis. Aquat. Org.

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“…or environmental organisms (including Paecilomyces lilacinus). Poor management, particularly inappropriate temperature, humidity, lighting, and nutrition, is considered a predisposing factor for shell disease in many captive animals (Boyer 1998, Barten 2006, Mader 2006. In free-ranging species, shell necrosis and dyskeratosis have been specifically reported.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigation of Shell Disease in Map Turtles (Graptemys Spp.)

Hernandez-Divers

Hensel

Gladden

et al. 2009

Journal of Wildlife Diseases

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ABSTRACT:Nineteen map turtles (Graptemys spp.) maintained under natural conditions were investigated because of chronic shell abnormalities. Animals were evaluated using a novel shell scoring system that divided the 54 scutes into six regions, with each region scored for lesion extent and severity, and summated to produce a total shell disease score (TSDS). Complete blood counts and various biochemistry analytes (total protein, albumin, globulin, urea, uric acid, 25-hydroxycholecalciferol, phosphorus, and ionized and total calcium) were measured. Under ketamine-medetomidine-morphine anesthesia, cytology tape strips and full thickness shell biopsies were collected aseptically for microbiologic, histologic (including scoring of biopsy quality), and ultrastructural evaluations. The TSDSs were low and ranged from 4 to 22 (median59) out of a possible score of 54. There were no correlations between TSDS and any hematologic or biochemistry parameter. The histologic quality of shell biopsies was good, and normal shell structure, by both light and electron microscopy, is described. Small clefts and pitting lesions were noted in 8/19 sections. There was no evidence of erosion, ulceration, inflammation, or infectious agents, but algae and diatoms were observed. Six biopsies yielded aerobic isolates (Chryseobacterium indologenes, Aeromonas hydrophila, Ralstonia pickettii, and Morganella morganii), whereas 11 shell samples grew various clostridial anerobes. No fungal organisms were cultured. Although the etiology of the lesions described remains unknown, the use of a scoring system in conjunction with full thickness biopsies is suggested to help standardize investigations into chelonian shell disease in the future.

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“…Essas alterações incluem vasoconstrição dos vasos sanguíneos periféricos (Lillywhite et al 1995, Murrey 2006. A temperatura da água em que os indiví-duos avaliados no presente estudo estavam alojados foi de 20 o C. De acordo com Boyer & Boyer (2006), a temperatura ideal da água para tartarugas aquáticas e semi aquáticas é de 25-37 o C. Desta maneira, sugere-se que as diferenças observadas na contagem de leucócitos totais e nas concentrações das proteínas plasmáticas totais entre os dois locais de coleta ocorreram porque apesar do seio supraoccipital ser considerado um local de maior probabilidade à contaminação, sob baixas temperaturas, a veia coccígea dorsal é mais susceptível a vasoconstrição e, consequentemente, a amostra de sangue coletada neste sítio torna-se mais propícia a hemodiluição pela linfa.…”

Section: Resultsunclassified

Efeito do sítio de venopunção nos parâmetros hematológicos em tigre-d'água-americano, Trachemys scripta elegans

Medeiros¹,

Locatelli-Dittrich

Schmidt

et al. 2012

Pesq. Vet. Bras.

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Pesq. Vet. Bras. 32(Supl. The aim of the present study was to compare two different blood collection sites of 24 red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans) from a commercial breeder, situated in Antonina, Paraná, Brasil. The animals were physically restrained and paired blood samples were collected from the dorsal coccygeal vein and the occipital sinus. The samples were collected in syringes containing heparin. After collection the samples were identified and refrigerated to posterior hematological analysis. Red blood cell and white blood count were performed using a hemocytometer. The packed cell volume and hemoglobin were determined by the microhematocrit method and cyanmethemoglobin method, respectively. Total plasma protein was determined by refractometry and differential leukocyte count was performed by the Shilling technique. There was a significant difference in the total white blood cell count and on the total plasma protein value, and on both cases the results found on the samples from the dorsal coccygeal vein were lower. The difference found on the white blood cell count was probably due to the lymph contamination of the samples, which also justifies the lower values of total plasma protein. In conclusion, the occipital sinus is more recommended blood collection site than the dorsal coccygeal vein.INDEX TERMS: Trachemys scripta, red-eared slider, blood collection, dorsal coccygeal vein.

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Turtles, Tortoises, and Terrapins

Cited by 40 publications

References 4 publications

Biochemical and hematological reference intervals for Krefft’s turtles Emydura macquarii krefftii from the Burnett River Catchment, Australia

Biochemical and hematological reference intervals for Krefft’s turtles Emydura macquarii krefftii from the Burnett River Catchment, Australia

Investigation of Shell Disease in Map Turtles (Graptemys Spp.)

Efeito do sítio de venopunção nos parâmetros hematológicos em tigre-d'água-americano, Trachemys scripta elegans

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