title: Cryptosporidiosis outbreak in captive chelonians (Testudo hermanni) with identification of two Cryptosporidium genotypes.
abstract: An outbreak of diarrhea in an outdoor group of captive Hermann's tortoises (Testudo hermanni) was associated with fecal shedding of cryptosporidial oocysts, as determined by coproscopic and immunoassay examinations. With partial sequencing of the 18S ribosomal RNA gene, 2 different Cryptosporidium genotypes could be identified in the fecal samples. Cryptosporidium tortoise genotype has previously been found in tortoise and ophidian species, and Cryptosporidium ducismarci has been reported from a snake and a chameleon, and it has been linked to intestinal disease in tortoises. The Hermann's tortoises described were also infected with oxyurid nematodes. Treatment specific for reptilian cryptosporidiosis was administered. The clinical signs and fecal shedding ceased, but 9 months later, diarrhea and fecal shedding were seen in 3 animals again. Either the oocyst shedding was temporarily suppressed below detection limits, or the animals were reinfected by oocysts still present in the environment. At least 1 of the detected Cryptosporidium genotypes was presumed to contribute to the clinical symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathology and Forensic Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria. Barbara.Richter@vetmeduni.ac.at
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.forename: Reinhard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rasim
authors.forename: Majda Globokar
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Vrhovec
authors.forename: Nora
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nedorost
authors.forename: Nikola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pantchev
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D003458:Cryptosporidium / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000662:veterinary*; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques / Q000662:veterinary; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D014426:Turtles / Q000469:parasitology*
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S