Clinical Management of an Intranasal Abscess in a Captive Elongate Tortoise (Indotestudo elongata) by Using Modified Choukroun's Platelet-Rich Fibrin

Abstract

An adult male elongate tortoise (Indotestudo elongata) was presented to the Animal Medical Center of Taipei Zoo with an abscess on the tip of its nose. After 43 days of daily debridement and systemic antibiotic administration, we sought an alternative treatment modality due to poor wound management. We developed a novel treatment using platelet-rich fibrin (PRF). There are few studies documenting the benefits of PRF for the management of wounds in reptiles. Most published protocols require the use of specific anticoagulants and methods to prepare PRF; however, we found that a modified Choukroun's PRF was relatively easy to prepare and use for wound treatment of an elongate tortoise. Here, we describe a successful outcome of a chronic, nonresolving facial wound after treatment with modified Choukroun's PRF. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a Choukroun's PRF preparation derived from reptilian blood. We recommend further studies and detailed trials to evaluate the efficacy of this protocol in reptiles.