Treatment of a mycobacterial infection in an Eastern Long-neck turtle (Chelodina longicollis).

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Mycobacterial infections are uncommonly diagnosed in reptiles. These infections are often systemic, chronic, and well advanced before presentation and diagnosis. Turtles, both marine and freshwater, appear to have a higher prevalence of the disease than other reptiles, perhaps because of their aquatic environment. CASE REPORT: An Eastern Long-neck turtle (Chelodina longicollis) was diagnosed with an apparently localised mycobacterial infection in the right foot. Biopsy, culture and PCR were used to make the diagnosis. Treatment with clarithromycin and rifampicin given orally for 9 months appeared to successfully resolve the infection. CONCLUSION: Antemortem diagnosis is difficult although molecular diagnostic techniques are improving the rates of diagnosis. Treatment of mycobacteria is lengthy, difficult and challenging to the patient, the owner and the veterinarian. For this reason, and because of the potential for zoonotic infection, it is infrequently undertaken.