Shell rot infection in a red eared turtle

Abstract

A Six month old red-eared turtle weighing 400gm was brought to the Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, MAFSU, Parbhani with a history of gradually increasing discoloration of shell since a week. After proper restrain detailed clinical and physical examination was carried out that revealed irregular white spots spread across the dorsal aspect of the carapace (shell) although the shell was free from cracks and wound. The turtle had a normal appetite and was fed commercial turtle feed. Swabs were taken from the carapace and water of the terrarium for culture that revealed mixed infection of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus spp. As per the antibiotic sensitivity testing and recommendations of the other researchers therapeutic management was carried out with Oxytetracycline @ 25 mg/kg BW IM for 3 days, Metronidazole oral suspension 50mg/kg BW PO for 10 days and povidone-iodine applied over the shell for 10 minutes daily followed by topical application of silver sulfadiazine ointment on white spots for 15 days. The treatment showed marked clinical improvement with respect to improvement in shell texture and appearance.