Infected Turtles Research Articles

Helminths of Chrysemys picta belli in Manitoba including Polystomoides pauli sp.n. (Monogenea: Polystomatidae)

One new monogenean is described and 11 other helminths are reported from painted turtles from eastern Manitoba. Polystomoides pauli sp.n. from the host's oral mucosa most closely resembles P. coronatum (Leidy) and P. oris Paul. It differs from the former in having more and larger genital coronet spines, and possession of anterior cecal diverticula, and from the latter in size, larger number of genital coronet spines, and possession of great hooks with entire, not bifid, roots. Price's emendation of P. coronatum to include five species he held to be its synonyms is rejected; and the five species, P. opacum Stunkard, P. megacotyle Stunkard, P. microcotyle Stunkard, P. albicollis MacCallum, and P. digitatum MacCallum are designated species inquirendae. Polystomoides coronatum is restricted to the redescription given for it by Stunkard. The trematodes Crepidostomum sp., Eustomos chelydrae, Microphallus opacus, Protenes angustus, Spirorchis parvus, S. scripta, Telorchis attenuatus, and T. corti, the cestode Proteocephalus sp., and the nematodes Serpinema trispinosa and Spiroxys contortus are reported from Chrysemys picta belli. Except for P. angustus, all represent first reports from turtles in Canada. This is the first report of E. chelydrae from the host stomach, and the second report of M. opacus from naturally infected turtles.

Treatment of Salmonella-Arizona-infected turtle eggs with terramycin and chloromycetin by the temperature-differential egg dip method.

Attempts to eliminate Salmonella and Arizona infection from newly hatched turtles were made by dipping fresh eggs in cold solutions of Terramycin and Chloromycetin at 1,000, 1,200, 1,500 and 2,000 mug per ml for either 10, 20, or 30 min. Control groups consisted of hatchings produced from nondipped eggs or eggs dipped in chilled water. In two of the four experiments 5 to 10 eggs were blended on days 15, 30, and 45 post antibiotic dip treatment. Twenty-five to 60 hatchlings from each control or experimental dip groups were held in containers and the water was tested (excretion method) for Salmonella and Arizona every 15 or 30 days for 180 to 210 days after hatching. Representative turtles were homogenized (blending method) to determine if systemic infections were present. All specimens tested were enriched in tetrathionate and selenite cystine broth. Nondipped eggs and water-dipped eggs routinely showed Salmonella and Arizona present in egg homogenate and hatchlings emerging from these eggs excreted these pathogens. Terramycin- and Chloromycetin-dipped eggs were uniformly negative for these pathogens, only if fresh eggs were dipped. Bacteriological assay of container water and whole turtle homogenate from hatchlings were negative for Salmonella and Arizona if eggs were dipped in 1,000 mug of Terramycin early in the egg laying season or if eggs were dipped in 1,500 or 2,000 mug of Terramycin per ml late in the egg laying season. The results of temperature-differential egg dip studies suggest that this is a feasible and promising method by which to eradicate Salmonella and Arizona from the turtle.

Untersuchungen über das Vorkommen von Salmonellen bei importierten Schildkröten – Isolierung einer neuen Salmonella-Spezies (<i>S. gallen</i> = 11: a: 1,2)

During a three-year study (1969–1971) samples of feces from turtles imported from Yugoslavia and Greece as well as from Russia were examined for the presence of Salmonella. The species examined were <i>Testudo hermanni, Testudo graeca </i>and <i>Testudo horsfieldii. </i>From the 182 specimens examined, 131 (71.97%) proved to be Salmonella positive. 38 different serotypes were isolated. 107 specimens contained single serotypes, while 23 were doubly infected and 1 specimen harbored 3 different serotypes of Salmonella. 4 of the isolated serotypes belonged to the group of 47 most frequently occurring serotypes. From the 1971 shipment of turtles we were able to isolate a new serotype, <i>S. gallen </i>(11:a:1,2). Attempts to eliminate fecal excretion of Salmonellae by infected turtles were made by treatment with an antibiotic, Penbritin.

Arboviruses in Reptiles: Isolation of a Bunyamwera Group Virus from a Naturally Infected Turtle

A Bunyamwera group arbovirus was isolated from the blood of a naturally infected turtle, Trionyx spinifer emoryi, from South Texas. The virus could not be distinguished by neutralization tests from either Cache Valley or Tensaw viruses. The relationship of arboviruses and reptiles is reviewed.

The life cycle of Trypanosoma chrysemydis

Trypanosoma chrysemydis of Chrysemys picta marginata reached the infective stage in 22 days in the crop and caeca of Placobdella parasitica and P. rugosa kept at 22–24 °C; this period was shortened to 14 days at 31 °C. Metacyclic stages were found in the crop. Leeches deprived of food for prolonged periods lost infections. Metacyclic forms reverted to epimastigotes and started to divide in leeches given a second blood meal. Leeches in nature probably retain infections throughout their lives if they get regular blood meals.Painted (Chrysemys picta marginata), snapping (Chelydra serpentina), and map (Graptemys geographica) turtles were infected by inoculation of metacyclic forms from leeches or cultures, and by bites of infected leeches. Turtles that ate infected leeches did not become infected. Amphibians could not be infected. The number of trypanosomes in the peripheral blood of naturally infected turtles was always low and only low parasitaemias were found in experimentally infected turtles, apparently because this trypanosome rarely divides in the vertebrate host.

Salmonella Excretion by Turtles

THE PET turtle as a potential source of salmonellosis has been pointed out (1, 2). The evidence is clear-cut-a pet turtle is brought into a home and within a few days one or more persons handling the turtle becomes ill. Upon investigation, the same Salmonella serotype is recovered from the patient and the turtle. Quite commonly, however, a turtle is in the home for several months before any person becomes ill. One wonders in such instances whether the turtle had the organism when it was brought into the home or whether it was infected from some source after it arrived. To supply a logical basis for evaluation of these points, we attempted to determine if naturally infected pet turtles would have salmonellae in the feces for prolonged periods of time. As an adjunct to the study, we tried to quantitate the levels of Salmonella contamination in the typical environment of a pet turtle.

Transplantation of a Monogenetic Trematode, Polystomoides sp., to the Chick Chorioallantois

A monogenetic trematode, Polystomoides sp., from the oral mucosa of the midwestern painted turtle, Chrysemys picta bellei, has survived on the chick chorioallantois for up to 7 days. Fortysix of 131 Polystomoides sp. transplanted to the chorioallantoic membranes of 66 9to 13-day-old chick embryos maintained at 30 C, were recovered live 1 to 7 days after transplantation. Ten additional worms were recovered dead on the shell or chorioallantois. Thirty-two eggs were either contaminated or dead at the time of worm recovery. Flukes removed from the chorioallantois 1 to 7 days postimplantation were as active as those from the oral mucosa. Chorioallantois specimens contain diverticulate ceca with dark-brown granular material suggesting that they ingest and utilize blood from the vascular chorioallantoic membrane. Although a digenetic trematode, Philophthalmus hegeneri Penner and Fried, 1963, has been grown on the chick chorioallantois (Fried, 1962), there are no published reports on the maintenance of monogenetic trematodes in this site. The monogenetic trematode, Polystomoides sp., from the oral mucosa of naturally infected midwestern painted turtles, Chrysemys picta bellei Gray, has been transplanted to the chick chorioallantois (Fried, 1965). The purpose of this paper is to present the details of this study. MATERIALS AND METHODS Chrysemys picta belli, obtained from a commercial dealer in Minnesota (J. R. Schettle Frog Farm, Inc., Route 1, Stillwater), were decapitated and the heads cut midsagittally to expose the oral mucosa. Polystomoides were removed from the oral mucosa of infected turtles (Figs. 2, 3) with dissecting needles and transferred through one to three changes of sterile Ringer's solution. Fertile white leghorn hens' eggs were incubated at 37 to 38 C, for 9 to 13 days. Sterilization procedures, methods used to operate on eggs and to implant Polystomoides on chorioallantoic membranes were as previously described for eye flukes (Fried, 1962). Polystonwoides were maintained on chorioallantoic membranes for 1 to 7 days postimplantation at 30 ? 1 C (Figs. 1, 7-9). Eggs were examined as previously described (Fried, 1962). Parasites were observed and photographed on the chorioallantois, lifted from the membrane with watchmaker's forceps, and placed in Ringer's. Polystomoides flattened on slides with moderate cover slip pressure were studied and Received for publication 24 March 1965. * Supported in part by a research grant from the Advanced Studies and Research Fund of Lafayette College and in part by NIH Grant AI03443. photographed live. Flattened specimens were also fixed in AFA, stained with Gower's (1939) carmine, measured, and photographed. Polystomoides from the oral mucosa were examined, fixed, stained, measured, and photographed in a similar manner. One hundred thirty-one worms were placed on the chorioallantoic membranes of 66 eggs. One to four flukes were used per egg, and the membranes were examined 1 to 7 days later. Fifteen Polystomoides maintained individually in 10 ml Ringer's solution at 30 ? 1 C and at room temperature (20 to 24 C) were used to determine the survival time of Polystomoides in Ringer's.

PET TURTLES AS A CAUSE OF HUMAN SALMONELLOSIS.

An infected pet turtle was shown to be the source of a case of human salmonellosis. The investigations that followed this finding resulted in 16 serotypes of Salmonella being designated turtle-associated types. Epidemiologic follow-up of these serotypes demonstrated, in addition to the original case, five index cases where turtles were the source of infection. Nine additional patients with salmonellosis had owned turtles but they were unavailable for sampling. Of the 22 infected persons found, 6 had been hospitalized and 13 excreted salmonellae for over 30 days. The majority of those infected were under 6 years of age; however, three mothers were also infected. The chain of transmission could be broken by the strict adherence to sanitary procedures when handling turtles or the production and marketing of turtles and turtle food free of salmonellae.