Literaturdatenbank |
Duncan Mary, C. D. J., & Junge, R. E. , Lymphosarcoma in african spurred tortoise (geochelone sulcata). Unpublished paper presented at Proceedings of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians.
Added by: Sarina Wunderlich (06 Jul 2014 16:10:42 UTC) |
Resource type: Conference Paper BibTeX citation key: DuncanMary2002 View all bibliographic details |
Categories: General Keywords: Acanthochelys macrocephala, Acanthochelys radiolata, Acanthochelys spixii, Chelidae, Chelus fimbriata, Hydromedusa maximiliani, Hydromedusa tectifera, Mesoclemmys gibba, Mesoclemmys heliostemma, Mesoclemmys hogei, Mesoclemmys nasuta, Mesoclemmys perplexa, Mesoclemmys raniceps, Mesoclemmys tuberculata, Phrynops geoffroanus, Phrynops hilarii, Phrynops tuberosus, Phrynops williamsi, Platemys platycephala, Rhinemys rufipes, Schildkröten - turtles + tortoises, Untersuchungsmethoden - examination method, Veterinärmedizin - veterinary medicine Creators: Duncan Mary, Junge Collection: Proceedings of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians |
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Abstract |
Testudinidae Five adult male African spurred tortoises (Geochelone sulcata) died over a 10-mo period at the Saint Louis Zoo with lymphosarcoma. The tortoises arrived in two groups, in 1997 and 1999. Deaths in the first group (n=3) occurred in February and April, and in the second group (n=2) in August and October 1999. During the summer, they were housed in an outdoor exhibit with Speke’s gazelle (Gazella spekei) and wattled crane (Bugeranus carunculatus). Over the winter, they were housed with other chelonid species at the Herpetarium, including Aldabra tortoise (Geochelone gigantea), Florida gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus), red-footed tortoise (Geochelone carbonaria), yellow-footed tortoise (Geochelone denticulata), and elongated tortoise (Indotestudo elongata). Only scant non-specific clinical signs of depression, anorexia, and lethargy were noted in initial cases. Gross necropsy findings in all the animals were similar. Multifocal to coalescing raised white nodules were present in the mucosa throughout the digestive tract with varying degrees of intensity and ulceration. There was an impression of a cellular infiltrate in multiple organs, resulting in a waxy appearance to the spleen and kidneys and a prominent reticulate pattern in the liver. Lack of fat stores suggested that the animals had deteriorated over an extended time period. With experience, cases were identified ante-mortem and confirmed by endoscopy, laparoscopy, and biopsy, though the tortoises died despite supportive therapy. Some of the tortoises were terminally septicemic (2/5), which was attributed to secondary infection associated with the ulceration of the gastrointestinal tract. The histologic appearance of the lesions was consistent with disseminated plasmacytoid lymphosarcoma. In certain viscera, up to 40-60% of the parenchyma was replaced by neoplastic cells. Virus was not isolated from frozen tissue. Sera collected from the African spurred tortoises, and from the other species that had been housed with them over winter, were assessed by ELISA for herpesvirus; the results were negative. Attempts were made to culture retrovirus without success, however, during this procedure the presence of particles suggestive of herpesvirus were noted. Further analysis of tissues by electron microscopy is currently proceeding.
Added by: Sarina Wunderlich |