Long-term Oral Clarithromycin Administration in Chelonians with Subclinical Mycoplasma spp. Infection

Abstract

Abstract Choanal swabs were collected three times at 2 wk intervals from 17 asymptomatic captive chelonians, eight Forsten's tortoises (Indotestudo forstenii) and nine Sulawesi forest turtles (Leucocephalon yuwonoi), to document individual Mycoplasma spp. shedding patterns. Four of the Forsten's tortoises and six of the Sulawesi forest turtles tested positive repeatedly for Mycoplasma spp. DNA using a PCR assay. Clarithromycin, a macrolide antibiotic, was administered orally to all animals at 20 mg/kg every 2 to 3 days for a total of 90 days. While no adverse effects were noted, this extended 3 month long course of clarithromycin failed to suppress Mycoplasma spp. shedding in all but one of the 10 Mycoplasma spp. PCR-positive animals.