For lack of words this is a very limited study of infection in chelonians and reptiles. This tends to be apparent in all species but plays a particular role of fatal infection in most. More commonly deadly(really deadly to begin with) in astrochelys radiata. Little is known of this strain of coccidia. Case studies are very limited. But I will advise after researching this "bubonic plague" for tortoises and turtles, to start doing cloaca swabs of your animals(specifically new additions). In many cases of "bio-security" as member Will defines in another posthttp://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread-66974.html. This level of testing for this highly infectious and very deadly is to be known more upon the sciences and medicinal aspects in this field. I cannot express enough reason to follow the guidelines of practicing safe tortoise/turtle keeping. Any size collection none the less needs to undergo a sense of quarantine for new animals or even just yearly exams/checks. I have been doing a lot of research on this with a few veterinarians, histopathoolgists, and professors of veterinary medicine. This seems to have a very very rare case of exposure. But none the less far more advanced and fatal than that of Mycoplasma, herpes, or any other common strain of protozoa in chelonian species. The way to test for this is to do cloaca swabs and send to a laboratory for bacterial/viral panel test. Typically takes a few weeks for results.
This infection can be spread among the easiest forms of transportation and that which we do not regularly deem "I was safe" conditions. Hands, feet, water, plants, flies, gnats, saliva of other chelonians housed together, fecal excrement smeared or carried from other animals feet to "tear apart a piece of green leaf", even finding worms in the soil it COULD be contaminated with, and then feeding to your animal. Little is known of the incubation of this nasty virus. The origins are not known either. Nor that of treatment. Published article is very vague but none the less a good start to make awareness to such deadly viruses our precious animals, hobby, business, or shelled friend could possible suffer from.
One case study done on a leopard tortoise was with the following histopath report. Luckily I had been able to be part of sharing this information and help out the tortoise community in awareness of an everyday new find in the sciences of this hobby.
Northwest Zoopath
http://www.zoopath.com/Services.htm
Michael M. Garner, DVM, Dipl. ACVP
"HISTORY: This greater than 30-year-old, the animal became inappetent, and was diagnosed with yolk coelomitis based on laparoscopic exam. Supportive care was administered, but the animal developed severe tenacious mucoid/diphtheric stomatitis/ileus, and died. Necropsy revealed a steel gray liver, mucoid colitis, yolk coelomitis, stomatitis, rhinitis, glossitis, and conjunctivitis.
CLINICAL DIAGNOSIS: Yolk coelomitis, possible herpes or iridovirus infection.
GROSS: Received in formalin are 18 tissues to 7 cm. in greatest dimension that are processed in nine blocks following appropriate decalcification of blocks #8-9.
MICROSCOPIC: Intranuclear coccidia in various stages of development are present in epithelial cells of the lung, ependyma, tongue, liver, gallbladder, kidney, esophagus, small intestine, colon, ureter, gallbladder, pancreas, and oviduct. Developmental stages are associated with varying degrees epithelial necrosis and lymphoplasmacytic inflammation. In the colon, the lesion is also associated with erosions and transmural edema. In the kidney, the lesion is associated with renal tubular dilatation, urate stasis, and necrosis. Ovary: Numerous follicles are degenerative. Coelomic cavity: Serosal surfaces have several adhesions and histiocytic inflammation with fibrin deposition and phagocytized yolk material.
HISTOPATHOLOGIC DIAGNOSIS: Intranuclear coccidiosis.
COMMENT: Histologic findings are consistent with fulminant disseminated intranuclear coccidiosis. There is no evidence of herpesvirus infection in the soft tissue sections. Microscopic examination of the decalcified head is pending with an addendum to follow."
Few articles portraying this viciously rare virus in chelonians
http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.23...88&uid=2&uid=4&uid=3739256&sid=21102084083501
http://www.vetcontact.com/en/art.php?a=1188&t=
This infection can be spread among the easiest forms of transportation and that which we do not regularly deem "I was safe" conditions. Hands, feet, water, plants, flies, gnats, saliva of other chelonians housed together, fecal excrement smeared or carried from other animals feet to "tear apart a piece of green leaf", even finding worms in the soil it COULD be contaminated with, and then feeding to your animal. Little is known of the incubation of this nasty virus. The origins are not known either. Nor that of treatment. Published article is very vague but none the less a good start to make awareness to such deadly viruses our precious animals, hobby, business, or shelled friend could possible suffer from.
One case study done on a leopard tortoise was with the following histopath report. Luckily I had been able to be part of sharing this information and help out the tortoise community in awareness of an everyday new find in the sciences of this hobby.
Northwest Zoopath
http://www.zoopath.com/Services.htm
Michael M. Garner, DVM, Dipl. ACVP
"HISTORY: This greater than 30-year-old, the animal became inappetent, and was diagnosed with yolk coelomitis based on laparoscopic exam. Supportive care was administered, but the animal developed severe tenacious mucoid/diphtheric stomatitis/ileus, and died. Necropsy revealed a steel gray liver, mucoid colitis, yolk coelomitis, stomatitis, rhinitis, glossitis, and conjunctivitis.
CLINICAL DIAGNOSIS: Yolk coelomitis, possible herpes or iridovirus infection.
GROSS: Received in formalin are 18 tissues to 7 cm. in greatest dimension that are processed in nine blocks following appropriate decalcification of blocks #8-9.
MICROSCOPIC: Intranuclear coccidia in various stages of development are present in epithelial cells of the lung, ependyma, tongue, liver, gallbladder, kidney, esophagus, small intestine, colon, ureter, gallbladder, pancreas, and oviduct. Developmental stages are associated with varying degrees epithelial necrosis and lymphoplasmacytic inflammation. In the colon, the lesion is also associated with erosions and transmural edema. In the kidney, the lesion is associated with renal tubular dilatation, urate stasis, and necrosis. Ovary: Numerous follicles are degenerative. Coelomic cavity: Serosal surfaces have several adhesions and histiocytic inflammation with fibrin deposition and phagocytized yolk material.
HISTOPATHOLOGIC DIAGNOSIS: Intranuclear coccidiosis.
COMMENT: Histologic findings are consistent with fulminant disseminated intranuclear coccidiosis. There is no evidence of herpesvirus infection in the soft tissue sections. Microscopic examination of the decalcified head is pending with an addendum to follow."
Few articles portraying this viciously rare virus in chelonians
http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.23...88&uid=2&uid=4&uid=3739256&sid=21102084083501
http://www.vetcontact.com/en/art.php?a=1188&t=