Clinical and histological findings of cutaneous wound healing in the red-eared slider turtle (Trachemys scripta elegans) housed in unheated outdoor enclosures.
BACKGROUND
Cutaneous wounds are common in chelonians. The clinical and histological features of wound healing in these species are not well described and this prevents evaluation of new therapies.


OBJECTIVE
To describe clinical and histopathological features of cutaneous wound healing in the red-eared slider turtle (Trachemys scripta elegans).


METHODS
Twenty four healthy adult females housed in outdoor facilities with free access to water and exposed to daily variations in temperature.


METHODS
Full thickness 6 mm skin biopsy punch wounds were created in the rear limbs. The turtles were assigned to Group 1 (n = 12 for clinical evaluation) and Group 2 (n = 12 for microscopic study). Group 1 was photographed on Day 1 and weekly, until 28 days post wounding. Wound retraction was expressed as the percentage of perimeter reduction. For Group 2, three skin wounds were sampled at 2, 7, 14, 21, 28, 42, 60 and 135 days post wounding for histological study. The avidin-biotin-peroxidase (ABC) staining method was used to evaluate five commercial antibodies.


RESULTS
Wound contraction was limited; crust persisted at least 28 days. Re-epithelialization was complete by Day 14 in many animals; active inflammation persisted until 28 days; connective tissue re-constitution and remodelling was achieved from 42 to 135 days. Antibodies AE1/AE3, Factor VIII, MAC 387, CD3 and NCL-MSA showed cross reactivity with the cell counterpart in turtle tissues.


CONCLUSIONS
Second intention wound healing progressed slowly and with an indolent behaviour. Microscopically there was marked overlapping of the inflammatory and proliferative phases over a long time period.
Department of Comparative Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Córdoba, Campus de Rabanales, 14014, Cordoba, Spain.|Medicina Veterinaria, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Cidade Universitária, S/n, Campo Grande, MS, 79070-900, Brazil.
Joao
J
Negrini
Department of Animal Medicine & Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Córdoba, Campus de Rabanales, 14014, Cordoba, Spain.
Pedro J
PJ
Ginel
Department of Animal Medicine & Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Córdoba, Campus de Rabanales, 14014, Cordoba, Spain.
Manuel
M
Novales
Zoological Garden of Córdoba, Avenida de Linneo, 14071, Córdoba, Spain.
Rafael
R
Guerra
Department of Comparative Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Córdoba, Campus de Rabanales, 14014, Cordoba, Spain. an1momoe@uco.es.
Elena
E
Mozos
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology*; D014426:Turtles; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*