title: Use of Cystoscopy to Visualize Morphological Alteration of the Liver in a Posthatchling Turtle ( Cuora trifasciata ).
abstract: A 55 g, 7 mo old Chinese three-striped box turtle ( Cuora trifasciata ) was presented with a 2 wk history of lethargy and anorexia. The owner attempted various antibiotic treatments without clinical improvement. A cystoscopic evaluation of the coelom was performed. The liver appeared dark red-to-brown presenting multifocal irregularly shaped white-to-tan and roughly round areas of discoloration on the capsular surface. An adult keeled box turtle (Pyxidea mouhotii), which died in the same facility at the same time, had similar hepatic lesions detected upon necropsy. From hepatic lesions, an antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli was isolated. Antibiotic treatment based on sensitivity testing led to a rapid resolution of the clinical signs in the Cuora trifasciata , with gain of appetite 4 days after the first antibiotic administration. A recheck cystoscopy demonstrated macroscopic resolution of hepatic lesions. This report demonstrates, to the best of the authors' knowledge, for the first time the clinical usefulness of cystoscopy for the diagnostic evaluation of the coelom of small chelonians. This minimally invasive technique is a valuable clinical tool in the medical approach to posthatchling chelonians.
authors.affiliation: From Clinica per Animali Esotici, Centro Veterinario Specialistico, Rome, Italy (N.DG., P.S.); Antech Diagnostics, Irvine, CA (R.M.); Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Legnaro, Italy (S.C.); and Clinica Veterinaria Modena Sud, Spilamberto, Italy (G.N.).
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Di Girolamo
authors.affiliation: From Clinica per Animali Esotici, Centro Veterinario Specialistico, Rome, Italy (N.DG., P.S.); Antech Diagnostics, Irvine, CA (R.M.); Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Legnaro, Italy (S.C.); and Clinica Veterinaria Modena Sud, Spilamberto, Italy (G.N.).
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Melidone
authors.affiliation: From Clinica per Animali Esotici, Centro Veterinario Specialistico, Rome, Italy (N.DG., P.S.); Antech Diagnostics, Irvine, CA (R.M.); Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Legnaro, Italy (S.C.); and Clinica Veterinaria Modena Sud, Spilamberto, Italy (G.N.).
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Catania
authors.affiliation: From Clinica per Animali Esotici, Centro Veterinario Specialistico, Rome, Italy (N.DG., P.S.); Antech Diagnostics, Irvine, CA (R.M.); Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Legnaro, Italy (S.C.); and Clinica Veterinaria Modena Sud, Spilamberto, Italy (G.N.).
authors.forename: Giordano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nardini
authors.affiliation: From Clinica per Animali Esotici, Centro Veterinario Specialistico, Rome, Italy (N.DG., P.S.); Antech Diagnostics, Irvine, CA (R.M.); Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Legnaro, Italy (S.C.); and Clinica Veterinaria Modena Sud, Spilamberto, Italy (G.N.).
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Selleri
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003558:Cystoscopy / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D008099:Liver / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D014426:Turtles
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents