CHRONIC RHINITIS ASSOCIATED WITH HERPESVIRAL INFECTION IN CAPTIVE SPUR-THIGHED TORTOISES FROM SPAIN

An epidemic of chronic rhinitis in a population of 50 captive spur-thi ghed tortoises (Testudo graeca graeca) from Palafrugell (Girona, Spain ) is described, in which eight animals died and 12 were euthanatized t o perform necropsies and post-mortem studies. The main clinical sign w as a bilateral, seromucous rhinitis often accompanied by stomatitis an d glossitis. Hematology and serum biochemistry were performed in 33 of the 50 ill animals and in 29 healthy tortoises from three disease-fre e populations. Lymphocyte count, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) acti vity, and alpha-globulin levels were significantly higher in the anima ls from the sick population. The heterophil count was significantly lo wer in the sick animals. Some of the diseased tortoises also showed a normocytic-normochromic anemia. Lesions were restricted to the respira tory system and oral cavity. Marked epithelial hyperplasia and presenc e of a severe mixed inflammatory infiltrate in the epithelium of the o ral, nasal, and tracheal mucosae were observed. Electron microscopy de monstrated the presence of intracytoplasmic and intranuclear viral par ticles of the size, shape, and distribution pattern typical of a herpe svirus.