Jacobson E R, Gaskin J M, Brown M B, Harris R K, Gardiner C H, LaPointe J L, Adams H P, Reggiardo C
College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville 32610.
J Wildl Dis. 1991 Apr;27(2):296-316. doi: 10.7589/0090-3558-27.2.296.
Seventeen desert tortoises, Xerobates agassizii, with upper respiratory tract disease were examined; thirteen were euthanatized for necropsy. Four normal control desert tortoises from a clinically healthy population were similarly evaluated. Hemoglobin and phosphorus values were significantly (P less than or equal to 0.05) lower and serum sodium, urea, SGOT, and cholesterol values were significantly higher in ill tortoises compared to controls. No significant differences in concentrations of serum or liver vitamins A and E were found between the two groups. While no significant differences were found for concentrations of lead, copper, cadmium, and selenium, the livers of ill tortoises had higher concentrations of mercury and iron. Lesions were found consistently in the upper respiratory tract (URT) of ill tortoises. In all ill tortoises dense infiltrates of lymphocytes and histiocytes obscured the mucosal epithelium and underlying glands. The mucosal epithelium was variably dysplastic, hyperplastic, and occasionally ulcerated. Electron microscopic studies revealed small (350 to 900 nm), pleomorphic organisms resembling Mycoplasma sp., in close association with the surface epithelium of the URT of ill tortoises. Pasteurella testudinis was cultured from the nasal cavity of all ill tortoises and one of four control tortoises. A Mycoplasma sp. was cultured from the nasal passageways of four ill tortoises and was ultrastructurally similar to the pleomorphic organism present on the mucosa in tissue section.
对17只患有上呼吸道疾病的沙漠陆龟（泽氏沙龟，Xerobates agassizii）进行了检查；其中13只被实施安乐死以进行尸检。对来自临床健康群体的4只正常对照沙漠陆龟进行了类似评估。与对照组相比，患病陆龟的血红蛋白和磷值显著降低（P≤0.05），血清钠、尿素、谷草转氨酶和胆固醇值显著升高。两组之间血清或肝脏中维生素A和E的浓度没有显著差异。虽然铅、铜、镉和硒的浓度没有显著差异，但患病陆龟的肝脏中汞和铁的浓度较高。在患病陆龟的上呼吸道（URT）中始终发现病变。在所有患病陆龟中，淋巴细胞和组织细胞的密集浸润掩盖了粘膜上皮和下方的腺体。粘膜上皮出现不同程度的发育异常、增生，偶尔还有溃疡。电子显微镜研究显示，在患病陆龟上呼吸道表面上皮附近存在小的（350至900纳米）、多形性生物体，类似于支原体属。从所有患病陆龟的鼻腔以及4只对照陆龟中的1只培养出了龟巴斯德氏菌。从4只患病陆龟的鼻腔通道中培养出一种支原体属，其超微结构与组织切片中粘膜上存在的多形性生物体相似。
