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SHELL ROT INFECTION IN RED EARED TURTLE

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M.Assan Kasim
M.Assan Kasim
M.Assan Kasim
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K.Senthil Kumar at VCRI Salem
K.Senthil Kumar
  • VCRI Salem
Palanivelrajan Muthusami at Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University
Palanivelrajan Muthusami
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Abstract

A four months old Red Eared turtle was brought to the Avian and Exotic Pet Unit (AEPU), Madras Veterinary College with a history of some irregular dark spots on the dorsal aspect of shell (carapace). After proper restraint, physical examination was carried. Whitish spots were observed on carapace. The shell was free from crack and wound. It was reported that these spots started to spread across its shell. But, the turtle had normal appetite and was fed with commercial turtle feed. Swabs were collected from the carapace and water from the terrarium, for the identification of infectious agent. Culture and antibiotic sensitivity test were done for the formulating the therapeutic protocol. Both the samples were positive for Staphylococcus spp infection. The turtle was managed with the amikacin and metronidazole oral suspension and the treatment was continued for ten days. Superficial lesion was daily cleaned with diluted povidone iodine for 14 days. After 14 days, the turtle recovered from the clinical condition.
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IJABR, VOL.7 (3) 2017: 634-635 ISSN 2250 –3579
634
Short Communication
SHELL ROT INFECTION IN RED EARED TURTLE
Assan Kasim, M., Senthil Kumar, K and Palanivelrajan, M.
Department of Wildlife Science, Madras Veterinary College, Chennai- 600 007
ABSTRACT
A four months old Red Eared turtle was brought to the Avian and Exotic Pet Unit (AEPU), Madras Veterinary College
with a history of some irregular dark spots on the dorsal aspect of shell (carapace). After proper restraint, physical
examination was carried. Whitish spots were observed on carapace. The shell was free from crack and wound. It was
reported that these spots started to spread across its shell. But, the turtle had normal appetite and was fed with commercial
turtle feed. Swabs were collected from the carapace and water from the terrarium, for the identification of infectious agent.
Culture and antibiotic sensitivity test were done for the formulating the therapeutic protocol. Both the samples were
positive for Staphylococcus spp infection. The turtle was managed with the amikacin and metronidazole oral suspension
and the treatment was continued for ten days. Superficial lesion was daily cleaned with diluted povidone iodine for 14
days. After 14 days, the turtle recovered from the clinical condition.
KEY WORDS: Red Eared turtle, Shell rot, Staphylococcus spp
INTRODUCTION
In recent years, reptiles esp. turtles have become
increasingly popular as pets. Dermatological problem
commonly arises in captive turtle due to improper care and
management and lack of knowledge related to their
housing pattern. High humidity, low temperatures, poor
nutrition, an under-floor heater, and injured skin are all
potential factors in the development of Testudine bacterial
infections. Gram-negative bacteria that are normally
present in the environment are the most common cause of
bacterial infection.
Clinical History and Observation
A four months old Red Eared turtle was brought to the
Avian and Exotic Pet Unit (AEPU), Madras Veterinary
College with a history of some irregular dark spots on the
dorsal aspect of shell (carapace). After proper restraint,
physical examination was carried. Whitish spots were
observed on carapace. The shell was free from crack and
wound. It was reported that these spots started to spread
across its shell. But, the turtle had normal appetite and was
fed with commercial turtle feed. Swabs were collected
from the carapace and water from the terrarium, for the
identification of infectious agent.
White spot were observed on carapace
Diagnosis
Culture and antibiotic sensitivity test were done for the formulating the therapeutic protocol. The samples collected were
positive for Staphylococcus spp infection.
Shell rot infection in red turtle
635
Culture positive for Staphylococcus spp infection
Before teatment
During teatment
After teatment
Treatment
The turtle was managed with amikacin I/M and the
metronidazole oral suspension and treatment was
continued for ten days. Superficial lesion is daily cleaned
with diluted povidone iodine for 14 days. After 14 days,
the turtle recovered from the clinical condition.
DISCUSSION
Traumatic injuries such as bites from other turtles or
predators can penetrate the outer keratin layer of the shell.
Burns and bacterial or fungal infections can also lead to
ulcers on the shell rot (Mader, 2006). Clinical findings
such as soft spot of the shell and hyperemia on the turtle
carapace are in accordance with findings of Fowler et al.
(2008) who stated that the shell rot infection caused soft
spot on the shell, hyperemia, fibrin deposits, cutaneous
ulceration, sloughing of skin, septicemia and dehydration.
The lesions in this case were found on the dorsal part of
the shell (Carapace). This was in accordance with Fowler
et al (2008) who quoted that, the initial stages of infection
caused soft spot on the shell and later it cause cutaneous
ulceration and fibrin deposit on the shell. Similarly,
Harvey-Clark (1995) reported that gram positive cocci and
candida were isolated from skin and foot lesions of turtles.
Usage of amikacin at the dose rate of 3mg per kg body
weight and the metronidazole treatment of shell rot was
for at the dose rate of 50 mg per kg body weight against
the bacterial infection based on the carpenter (2012). The
therapeutic effect was observed, which revealed a marked
clinical improvement with regard to improvement in shell
texture and appearance. Hoppmann (2007) recommended
the treatment of superficial cases with 2% chlorhexidine or
povidone-iodine solution, twice daily soaks, until lesions
resolved.
CONCLUSION
Shell rot is a common fungal or bacterial infection of a
Turtle or Tortoise shell, associated with a soft spot on the
shell hyperemia, fibrin deposit, cutaneous ulceration,
Sloughing of skin, Septicemia, dehydration. This wound
leaves room for bacteria or fungi to move in and grow.
The infection will, if left alone can rot through the bone
and into the body cavity. Amikacin and Metronidazole
were used for the treatment of bacterial infection at a dose
rate of 3mg per kg body and 50 mg per kg body weight
against bacterial infection and it gives the best result
against shell rot infection in red eared turtle.
REFERENCES
Carpenter, J. W. (2012) Exotic animal formulary. Elsevier
Health Sciences.
Fowler, M. E., & Miller, R. E. (2008) Zoo and wild animal
medicine: current therapy (Vol. 6). Elsevier Health
Sciences.Fraser, C. M. (1986). The Merck veterinary
manual (No. Edition 6). Merck & Co.
Harkewicz, K. A. (2002, July) Dermatologic problems of
reptiles. In Seminars in Avian and Exotic Pet Medicine
(Vol. 11, No. 3, pp. 151-161). WB Saunders.
Harvey-Clark, C.J. (1995,October) Common dermatologic
problems in pet reptilia. In Seminars in avian and exotic
pet medicine (Vol. 4, No. 4, pp. 205-219). WB Saunders.
Hoppmann, E. & H.W. Barron (2007) Dermatology in
reptiles. Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine,16(4), 210-224.
... Shell rot or Septicemic Cutaneous Ulcerative Disease (SCUD) is a common problem in aquatic turtles and some reptiles caused by a bacterial or fungal infection that can come from dirty environment in the form of dirty water or moldy bedding. Red-eared turtles remain around water all the time, and any previous wound on the shell predisposes them to shell infections mostly by gram-negative bacteria that are normally present in the environment (Kasim et al., 2017). ...
... As per the antibiotic sensitivity testing and findings of the other researchers, therapeutic management was carried out with Oxytetracycline @ 25 mg/kg BW IM for 3 days, Metronidazole oral suspension 50mg/kg BW PO for 10 days and povidone-iodine applied over the shell for 10 minutes daily followed by topical application of silver sulfadiazine ointment on white spots for 15 days (Harms et al., 2004;Kasim et al., 2017). ...
... Bacterial or fungal infections can also lead to ulcers on the shell (Wyneken 2006). Shell rot or SCUD is a common problem in aquatic turtles frequently reported due to managemental faults or dirty environment in the form of dirty water or moldy bedding leading to the predisposition of the shell to fungal or bacterial infections especially gram-negative bacteria that are normally present in the environment (Kasim et al., 2017). Clinical findings observed such as soft spot of the shell and hyperemia on the turtle carapace have been also reported by Fowler et al. (2008) who has mentioned that the initial stages of infection causes soft spots on the shell and later on cutaneous ulceration and fibrin deposit on the shell are observed. ...
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... These turtles, archived in the Michigan State University Herpetology collections (MSU), include several emydid taxa, including Trachemys scripta elegans, Emys orbicularis, and Actinemys marmorata. They were compared with the few available photographs of bone damage attributed to shell disease (Lovich et al. 1996;Gônet et al. 2018) and the written descriptions available in the research and veterinarian literature (e.g., Garner et al. 1997;Rose et al. 2001;Raphael 2003;Goodman 2007;Köbölkuti et al. 2008;Hernandez-Divers et al. 2009;Feldman and Feldman 2011;Assan Kasim et al. 2017;Christiansen et al. 2020;Zonneveld and Bartels 2022). ...
... Shell diseases in aquatic forms have been attributed to CSD, PTSD, SCUD, USD, and simply undifferentiated shell disease (Table 2) (e.g., Kasim et al. 2017;Getto 2021;Lambert et al. 2021). Some of these names are likely interchangeable and some of them have etiological agents in common. ...
THE OCCURRENCE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF ULCERATIVE SHELL DISEASE (USD) ON GEOEMYDID TURTLES, MIDDLE EOCENE, SOUTHWESTERN WYOMING, UNITED STATES
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  • Jan 2023
Fossil turtle carapace and plastron bones from the earliest Bridgerian (Ypresian, early Eocene) low-ermost Bridger Formation in the Bridger Basin of southwestern Wyoming are characterized by numerous bio-genic bone modification features. These include the ichnotaxa Karethraichnus and Thatchtelithichnus (interpreted as invertebrate parasitism traces) and the ichnotaxa Nihilichnus and Linichnus (interpreted as predation/scaveng-ing traces). Carapace and plastron bones with ovoid to amorphous depressions of etched or corroded bone occur at several horizons and are particularly abundant (~80%) at one horizon. In some examples the external cortical layer is corroded away and the underlying upper trabecular layer is exposed. However, in more severe cases, the deterioration of the shell bone penetrates halfway or more through the trabecular layer. These depressions occur solely on the external surface of bone elements and are consistent with the ichnotaxon Gunnellichnus. Comparison of the Bridger turtles with modern emydid turtle taxa affected by various shell disease suggest that these corrosion depressions record the occurrence of ulcerative shell disease (USD) on Eocene turtles. Ulcerative shell disease occurs rarely on Baena (Baenidae) and Baptemys (Dermatemydidae) but is particularly common on geoemydid turtles of the genus Echmatemys (E. septaria, E. wyomingensis, and Echmatemys sp.). It is notably absent on trionychid and carettocheylid turtles. The prevalence of USD on Echmatemys spp. is interpreted to reflect differing environmental preferences of Bridger turtles. The abundance of turtles with USD within one narrow stratigraphic horizon which may reflect a short interval of increased rainfall and cloud cover resulting in decreased basking efficacy, which is a primary factor in the occurrence of USD in modern turtles.
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... One more treatment protocol was advised which constitutes dry-docking for 23 hours with only one hour in fresh, deep water for feeding and elimination, debridement of soft spots, daily scrubbing with povidone-iodine using a soft toothbrush and topical application of silver sulfadiazine ointment after bath. Kasim et al. (2017) successfully treated shell rot in a red-eared turtle with a combination of amikacin and metronidazole oral suspension for 10 days along with the topical application of diluted povidone-iodine for 14 days. Khan et al. (2019) treated shell rot in a turtle with enrofloxacin bath and topical application of chlorhexidine gel for 7 days. ...
... Khan et al. (2019) treated shell rot in a turtle with enrofloxacin bath and topical application of chlorhexidine gel for 7 days. The findings of shell rot and recovery after treatment with povidone-iodine and silver sulfadiazine are in agreement with those reported by Kasim et al. (2017); Kramer (2002). ...
Therapeutic Management of Shell Rot in Red-Eared Turtle (Trachemys scripta elegans)
Article
Full-text available
  • Mar 2020
One-year-old female red-eared turtle was presented to Teaching Veterinary Clinical Complex, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Udgir with a history of normal feed intake with the appearance of white-colored patches over shell since one month. Clinical examination revealed no visible abnormality of legs, mouth, nose, ear, and eyes. The examination of the shell revealed the presence of white spots on the shell. Investigations about management revealed the use of hard water for keeping turtle and less exposure to sunlight. Based on history and clinical examination the turtle was confirmed for shell rot and treated with gentle scrapping of the shell in areas of the lesion followed by soaking of the shell with povidone-iodine daily for 10 minutes using surgical gauze followed by application of silver sulfadiazine ointment topically. Change in managemental practice was advised with keeping turtle in soft and fresh deep water only for feeding and excretion of waste followed by complete drying and exposure to sunlight for at least 1 hour daily. Gradual improvement was observed with the disappearance of the white spot and the regain of natural color of the shell. In this way, the case of shell rot in red-eared turtle was successfully treated with a change in management practices and topical application of povidone-iodine and silver sulfadiazine.
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... Septicemic cutaneous ulcerative disease, ulcerative shell disease, carapacial shell disease, and necrotizing shell disease are the commonly used terms to describe the abnormal conditions caused by bacteria, algae, and fungi (Gônet et al., 2018;Johnson, 2004;Lescano et al., 2013;Rose et al., 2001;Zonneveld & Bartels, 2023). These affections manifest on the turtle shell as shell necrosis or dead tissue (i.e., the affected areas exhibit irregular and amorphous regions of bone necrosis; Lovich et al., 1996;Mader, 2006), pitting (i.e., multifocal amorphous pits ranging from microscopic to large; Wallach, 1975;Jacobson, 2007;Hern andez-Divers et al., 2009;Drumheller et al., 2023), ulceration (Assan Kasim et al., 2017;Johnson, 2004;Mader, 2006), and weakening and fragility (i.e., the affected portions of the shell can weaken, making them more susceptible to cracking or breaking). This can result in shell fragments or pieces becoming detached or easily damaged (see Hallock et al., 2016;and references therein). ...
Postcranial anomalies of Eocene freshwater pleurodiran and cryptodiran turtles from the Spanish Duero Basin
Article
Testudines are one of the best‐represented taxonomic groups among the Paleogene taxa of the Duero Basin (Castile and Leon Autonomous Community, central Spain). Among them, Neochelys (Podocnemidide) and Allaeochelys (Carettochelyidae) are most abundant, allowing the population to be assessed for osteological anomalies. The abundance of postcranial remains of both taxa allows us to identify several individuals with potential anomalies, mostly in their shells. Some of them have already been described in previous studies, but most of them are still unpublished. The objective of this study is to analyze in detail the anomalous Neochelys and Allaeochelys remains. As a result, different categories of causal agents (such as bacteria, fungi, parasites, or trauma) have been identified as potential producers of the anomalies in these freshwater turtles. Information regarding the pathogenesis and healing stages of some of these anomalies is provided.
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... Caplak/ektoparasit merupakan kondisi di mana tortoise berperan sebagai inang dari parasit caplak atau kutu (Segura et al., 2019). Shell rot merupakan infeksi pada cangkang tortoise yang biasanya disebabkan oleh jamur atau bakteri, dan ditandai dengan area cangkang yang lunak (Kasim et al., 2017). ...
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... Metronidazole is a common drug used for treating bacterial and protozoal infections in various turtles, such as Staphylococcus spp. in red-eared slider turtle (Trachemys scripta elegans (Wied-Neuwied, 1839)) which can cause systemic coagulation depletion of clotting factors, followed by hemorrhages, as well as Hemogregarine spp. (haemoparasites) which can cause the rupture of red blood cells (Laveran and Pettit 1910;McAuliffe 1977;Knotkova et al., 2005;Angus and van der Poll 2013;Dvorakova et al., 2015;Assan Kasim et al., 2017;Úngari et al., 2023). This drug also has a longer half-life in turtles (27 h) compared to mammals (Innis et al., 2006). ...
Blood recovery of wild Mekong snail-eating turtles (Malayemys subtrijuga Schlegel and Müller, 1845) in captivity from leech infestation
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Full-text available
  • Oct 2023
Blood cell counts are valuable diagnostic tools for assessing the health status of chelonians, however, reference standards for healthy blood parameters in various turtle species are lacking. In this study, forty wild female Malayemys subtrijuga were captured from ponds in Kasetsart University, and transported to laboratory for recuperating in captivity. All turtles were infected with a single leech species, Placobdelloides siamensis, with a mean of 513.7 ± 164.9 individuals per turtle, and exhibited penetrating and lesion wounds from leech infestations on both their skin and shell. Subsequently, they were cleaned and treated to eliminate ecto- and endoparasites before the recuperation period began. The turtles did not exhibit significantly differences in weight, carapace length (CL), red blood cell count (RCC), and white blood cell count (WCC) with a mean of 654.2 ± 199.9 g, 15.0 ± 2.5 cm, 327,080 ± 70,156 cells/mm³, and 73,340 ± 15,859 cells/mm³, respectively, during the initial records (week 0). However, after being maintained for 17 weeks, their health significantly improved in term of their blood parameters (RCC and WCC) and weight, except CL which remained unchanged, with a mean of 491,470 ± 16,169 cells/mm³, 18,790 ± 1496 cells/mm³, and 738.9 ± 191.5 g, respectively. Therefore, the health status obtained in this study can be used as a reference for blood parameters, weight, and recuperation period for the treatment of ill wild M. subtrijuga in captivity or as part of conservation management programs for turtles.
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... As a result, fungi, bacteria and algae can invade an organism in damp habitats and cause shell injuries (e.g., [57,58]). The anomalous conditions of bacterial, algal, and fungal origins are commonly known as septicaemic cutaneous ulcerative disease (SCUD), ulcerative shell disease (USD), carapacial shell disease (CSD), or necrotizing shell disease (NSD) [20,57,[59][60][61][62]. The clinical signs of these affections include microscopic to large amorphous pits, commonly with the presence of irregular and amorphous regions of bone necrosis (e.g., [57,63,64]). ...
Analysis of the Anomalies in a Middle Eocene Shell of Neochelys (Pleurodira, Podocnemididae) from the Duero Basin (Zamora, Spain)
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Full-text available
Turtle shells frequently exhibit anomalous osseous modifications on their surface which can sometimes compromise the survival of the organism. Nowadays, despite the large number of anomalies identified in both extant and extinct turtle shells, the etiology, as well as the pathogenesis, of the various osseous modifications remains unknown in most documented extinct representatives. In fact, the interpretation of these anomalies in most fossil turtles is often speculative, the great majority of anomalous osseous modifications being attributed to vertebrate feeding traces, without considering other potential causative agents. In this context, we herein re-analyzed the shell anomalies recognized in an individual determined as Neochelys sp. (Pleurodira, Podocnemididae) from the middle Eocene (Lutetian) of the El Tejar fossil site (Corrales del Vino, Zamora, Spain), previously proposed as traumatic injuries resulting from a crocodile attack. The re-evaluation of these osseous alterations through detailed physical examination, comparison through direct observation and from the literature on extant turtles, and the use of the files obtained from a computerized axial tomography scan, allows the proposal of diverse causal agents, none of them supporting the previous interpretation. In addition, information regarding the pathogenesis and stages of the healing of the shell anomalies studied herein is provided.
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... Osteomyelitis is, in most cases, the result of the introduction of gram-negative bacteria into the bone (Adkesson et al., 2007;Alfaro et al., 2008;Granados et al., 2013;Hunt, 1957;Johnson, 2004). In turtles, the shell infection of bacterial and, sometimes, fungal origin is commonly known as septicaemic cutaneous ulcerative disease (SCUD) or ulcerative shell disease (USD) (Assan Kasim et al., 2017;Barnett, 2003;Johnson, 2004;Wallach, 1975;Woodburn et al., 2021), mainly affecting freshwater turtles (Lescano et al., 2013;Schumacher, 2003), such as Dortoka vasconica (Pérez-García et al., 2012). However, other infectious agents, including viruses, algae, or even multicell parasites, can also be the cause of infection on the turtle shell (Hunt, 1957;Barnett, 2003;Lafortune et al., 2005 et al., 2008;Granados et al., 2013). ...
Analysis of shell anomalies in the Spanish upper cretaceous basal pan‐pleurodire Dortoka vasconica (Dortokidae)
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  • Aug 2022
The study of pathological bone modifications of extinct organisms of lineages, which are still living today, in combination with extant representatives, allows to infer data about population dynamics, lifestyle, and diseases they were subject to. Pathological studies in turtles are extensive; however, these contributions are mainly focused on extant representative records of survival rates or on non‐skeletonized material, and do not generally include morphological descriptions, illustrations, or data concerning their etiology and pathogenesis. As a consequence, paleopathology in turtles remains relatively poorly understood, especially considering extinct forms. In this context, we herein analyze marks of possible pathological origin recognized in two disarticulated plastral plates of the Spanish freshwater basal pan‐pleurodiran turtle Dortoka vasconica (Dortokidae), from its type locality, the Upper Cretaceous (late Campanian‐early Maastrichtian) fossil site of Laño 1 (Treviño County, Burgos, Spain). As a result, information regarding the possible etiology, pathogenesis, and stages of healing of the marks studied here are provided. A probable infectious origin is recognized as the etiology in both plates, these marks being considered as pathologies. This study contributes to our understanding of pathologies in extinct turtle taxa, specifically a stem‐pleurodiran turtle.
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... High humidity, low temperatures, poor nutrition, and injured skin are all potential factors in the development of bacterial infections in turtles. Gram-negative bacteria that are normally present in the environment are the most common cause of bacterial infection (Assan et al. 2017). ...
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