l cyathostomiasis in a anner (Equus caballus) ase #6 (N14-19) Intranuclear Coccidiosis in a Red-footed Tortoise (Chelonoidis carbonaria) G. Hendricks, Class of 2015 JUSTIN STILWELL, CLASS OF 2016 E M B E R E P P E R S O N, D V M arina, DVM, Diplomate ACVP N A T A L I E S T E C K L E R, D V M, MS J I M W E L L E H A N, D V M, M S, P H D, D A C Z V M, D A C V M S E R E N A C R A F T, D V M, D A C V P L I S A F A R I N A, D V M, D A C V P nted only for viewing on SEVPAC website Permission granted only for viewing on SEVPAC website
Signalment Mr. T, 16 year old, male, red-footed tortoise Permission granted only for viewing on SEVPAC website
History One of three in private collection Housed in outdoor enclosure 2 week history of lethargy and anorexia 2 day history of oral/perioral proliferative ulcers, depression, respiratory distress Died shortly after starting treatment Permission granted only for viewing on SEVPAC website
Ancillary Diagnostics Abaxis Chemistry Hyperuricemia 5.7 mg/dl (0.8+/-0.3) Hypoalbuminemia <1.0 g/dl (1.7+/-0.5) Hypophosphatemia 0.8 mg/dl (3.6+/-1.2) Hypokalemia 4.1 meq/l (5.3+/- 0.8) PCR Negative for: Ranavirus Herpesvirus Adenovirus Permission granted only for viewing on SEVPAC website
Gross Necropsy Findings Bilateral, red, shiny lesions on lateral aspect of the oral cavity Shallow red defect on dorsal mucosa of the tongue Mild to moderate amount of dark red gelatinous material in the distal primary bronchi and the proximal right lung Permission granted only for viewing on SEVPAC website
Permission granted only for viewing on SEVPAC website
Permission granted only for viewing on SEVPAC website
Permission granted only for viewing on SEVPAC website
Permission granted only for viewing on SEVPAC website
Permission granted only for viewing on SEVPAC website
Permission granted only for viewing on SEVPAC website
Permission granted only for viewing on SEVPAC website
ermission granted only for viewing on SEVPAC website
Permission granted only for viewing on SEVPAC website
Permission granted only for viewing on SEVPAC website
Permission granted only for viewing on SEVPAC website
Permission granted only for viewing on SEVPAC website
Morphological Diagnosis Intranuclear coccidiosis, chronic, multisystemic, minimal to severe, associated with: Pneumonia, chronic, proliferative, marked. Gastritis, lymphoplasmacytic and heterophilic, chronic, mild, with epithelial necrosis and hyperplasia. Interstitial nephritis, lymphoplasmacytic and heterophilic, and tubular degeneration and necrosis, multifocal, mild. Etiology: Intranuclear coccidian parasite of chelonians Initially described by Jacobson et al. in 1994 Isolated from several species of tortoises since its discovery First case reported in red-footed tortoises Permission granted only for viewing on SEVPAC website
Intranuclear Coccidiosis Life cycle not well understood Commonly found multisystemically in epithelial cells and often associated with lymphocytic or lymphoplasmocytic inflammation and variable necrosis Antemortem qpcr diagnostic assay available Permission granted only for viewing on SEVPAC website
Quantitative Real-Time PCR Coccidia-specific primers and probe 100ng DNA from blood Coccidia copy number: Shy Girl 500 Mr. T 200 Brave Girl 30 Permission granted only for viewing on SEVPAC website
Intranuclear Coccidiosis Clinical Signs Nonspecific Lethargy Anorexia Weakness Ocular and nasal mucoid discharge Ulcerations (oral & GI) Respiratory distress Diarrhea Emaciation Swollen erythematous vent Ascites Permission granted only for viewing on SEVPAC website
Acknowledgements Dr. Lisa Farina UF Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratories Drs. Natalie Steckler & Jim Wellehan Wildlife and Aquatic Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory Drs. Ember Epperson & Serena Craft UF Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratories Permission granted only for viewing on SEVPAC website
References Alvarez, A., P. Gibbons, S. Rivera, L. Archer, A. Childress, and J. Wellehan. 2013. Development of a quantitative PCR for rapid and sensitive diagnosis of an intranuclear coccidian parasite in Testudines (TINC), and detection in the critically endangered Arakan forest turtle (Heosemys depressa). Veterinary Parasitology. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2012.11.029 Garner, M., C. Gardiner, J. Wellehan, A. Johnson, T. McNamara, M. Linn, S. Terrell, A. Childress, and E. Jacobson. 2006. Intranuclear coccidiosis in tortoises: nine cases. Veterinary Pathology. 43:311-320. Innis, C., M. Garner, A. Johnson, J. Wellehan, C. Tabaka, R. Marschang, R. Nordhausen, and E. Jacobson. 2007. Antemortem diagnosis and characterization of nasal intranuclear coccidiosis in Sulawesi tortoises (Indotestudo forsteni). Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigations. 19:660-667. Jacobson, E., J. Schumacher, S. Telford, E. Greiner, C. Buergelt, and C. Gardiner. 1994. Intranuclear coccidiosis in Radiated tortoises (Geochelone radiata). Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine. 25(1):95-102. Permission granted only for viewing on SEVPAC website
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