Literaturdatenbank
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Gibbons, P. M. , Emerging infectious diseases of chelonians - abstract. Unpublished paper presented at Program and Abstracts of the Tenth Annual Symposium on the Conservation and Biology of Tortoises and Freshwater Turtles.
Added by: Sarina Wunderlich (06 Jul 2014 16:10:46 UTC) |
| Resource type: Conference Paper BibTeX citation key: anon2013.16077 View all bibliographic details  |
Categories: General Keywords: Bakterien - bacteria, Einzeller - protozoa, Schildkröten - turtles + tortoises, Veterinärmedizin - veterinary medicine, Viren - viruses Creators: Gibbons Collection: Program and Abstracts of the Tenth Annual Symposium on the Conservation and Biology of Tortoises and Freshwater Turtles |
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| Abstract |
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The individual circumstances that allow pathogens to cause disease differ for each organism, and result from interactions among the environment, the pathogen, and the animal. The study of these factors is a field known as “disease ecology.” Preventing exposure to infectious organisms can facilitate disease outbreaks because animals require exposure to develop immunity. Species-appropriate environmental conditions are paramount for a healthy immune system in reptiles. An “emerging disease” has either recently appeared in a population, is rapidly increasing in incidence, changing in geographic range, or threatens to increase in the near future. Intranuclear coccidiosis, cryptosporidium, iridovirus, and adenovirus are emerging infectious diseases of chelonians. Intranuclear coccidiosis of Testudines (TINC) was first reported over 20 years ago, has been increasingly reported in numerous species in Europe, North America, and possibly Asia. It may be the most important disease currently affecting chelonians, and should be considered for every terrestrial chelonian with clinical signs involving multiple organ systems. Cryptosporidium-related disease has recently been described in a number of chelonians globally. Weight loss and gastrointestinal signs may occur, and concurrent infection with other pathogens may enhance disease progression. Ranavirus infection recently caused mass mortality events in wild North American box turtles (Terrapene spp.) and has been found in some captive chelonians. It is usually fatal and causes oral ulcers and cutaneous abscesses, often with systemic signs of illness. Ranaviral infection is not acquired orally, and transmission may require a vector or open wound. Since 2009, adenoviruses have caused several mortality events in captive chelonians. Disease usually involves numerous organs and occurs in young or immunocompromised animals such as the recent group of 105 illegally imported Sulawesi Tortoises that all died with systemic Siadenovirus infection despite aggressive supportive care at several zoological institutions. These diseases are worthy of intensive research to describe them. Fortunately, infectious diseases can be understood, and limited conservation resources should be directed toward disease ecology research to inform actions that will stop a disease from affecting Endangered species, rather than investing resources in trying to protect Endangered species from exposure to pathogens.
Added by: Sarina Wunderlich |