Diseases of Turtles and Tortoises

Sarah Langan

FibropapillomaBlack, white, or pink cauliflower-like tumorsExternal tumors can be surgically removedNo treatment for internal tumors

Grey-patch DiseaseOccurs in young green sea turtlesSmall circular skin lesions grow into grey

patchesOccurs in young green sea turtles in warm,

crowded, stressful environmentsCaused by herpes virus

Upper Respiratory Tract DiseaseMild to severe nasal discharge, puffy eyelids

and recessed eyes, dull skin and scutesTransmitted through contact with other

infected tortoisesCause of extreme population decline in wild

US desert tortoises

Shell RotBone eroding bacterial or

fungal infectionArea on plastron with

pitted or rotted appearance

Inflamed area of tissue underneath shellMay have blood

underneath shell

SalmonellaCarriersSymptoms: diarrhea, fever,

and abdominal cramps occur 12-72 hours after infection

Recovery time: 4-7 days without treatment

248 cases from 34 states related to turtles