Pneumonia in Moorish tortoises (Testudo graeca) associated with avian serovar A Chlamydia psittaci
Vanrompay, D.; De Meurichy, W.; Ducatelle, R.; Haesebrouck, F.
Veterinary Record 135(12): 284-285
1994
ISSN/ISBN: 0042-4900 PMID: 7817509 Document Number: 433427
In September 1992, 60 Moorish tortoises which had been illegally imported into Belgium were confiscated and moved to Antwerp zoo. Soon afterwards 2 tortoises died. PM examination revealed mucopurulent bronchopneumonia in both animals. Impression smears from the lungs detected chlamydia. Pus samples from both lungs were inoculated into embryonated specific pathogen free (SPF) chicken eggs; chlamydia were detected by direct immunofluorescence in all yolk sac smears after 3 passages on SPF eggs, isolates were serotyped using specific monoclonal antibodies in a micro-immunofluorescence test; both C. psittaci isolates belonged to the avian serovar A. The tortoises had been in contact with psittacine birds which may have been the source of the infection. This appears to be the first report of the isolation of C.psittaci from tortoises.