Fungus in tortoises (mycosis)

Symptoms: ulcers and crusts on the skin or shell Turtles: land turtles Treatment: carried out by a veterinarian, contagious to other turtles

“Dry” stratification of scutes, caused by the saprophytic fungus Fusarium incarnatum. This disease, in principle, is not dangerous, since only the dying superficial sections of the horn exfoliate, but the periosteum remains intact. It is difficult and rather futile to treat this, tk. relapses usually occur.

Turtles have the following types of mycobiota: Aspergillus spp., Candida spp., Fusarium incornatum, Mucor sp., Penicillium spp., Paecilomyces lilacinus

THERAPY OF MAIN MYCOSES

Aspergillus spp. — Clotrimazole, Ketoconazole, +- Itraconazole, +- Voriconazole CANV – + – Amphotericin B, Nystatin, Clotrimazole, + – Ketoconazole, + – Voriconazole Fusarium spp. — +- Clotrimazole, +- Ketoconazole, Voriconazole Candida spp. — Nystatin, + — Fluconazole, Ketoconazole, + — Itraconazole, + — Voriconazole

The reasons:

1. In tortoises, it most often manifests as firm nodules (lodular dermatitis), highly scaly skin, characteristic eschars (brown or greenish-yellow in color) located in permanently injured areas (and in places of contact with the carapace, on the neck and tail in females with group keeping, etc.), weeping ulcers (when the process spreads from shell plates), subcutaneous abscesses (resembling pearls), sometimes enclosed in a dense fibrous capsule, as well as chronic edema of the subcutaneous tissue of the hind limbs.

2. The disease manifests itself in the form of local or extensive foci of erosion, usually in the region of the lateral and posterior plates of the carapace. The affected areas are covered with crusts, usually yellowish-brown. When the crusts are removed, the lower layers of the keratin substance are exposed, and sometimes even the bone plates. The exposed surface looks inflamed and is quickly covered with drops of punctate hemorrhage. The disease slowly progresses and usually acquires a protracted, chronic character. In land turtles, surface erosion is more characteristic.

ATTENTION: The treatment regimens on the site can be obsolete! A turtle can have several diseases at once, and many diseases are difficult to diagnose without tests and examination by a veterinarian, therefore, before starting self-treatment, contact a veterinary clinic with a trusted herpetologist veterinarian, or our veterinary consultant on the forum.

Turtle Treatment Scheme

1. Separate the turtle from other turtles.
2. Raise the temperature to 30 C.
3. Remove the soil and lay down an absorbent diaper or paper towels. Disinfect the terrarium.
4. Periodically treat the carapace with 3% hydrogen peroxide and remove any easily detachable pieces of horn. Treatment takes 1-2 months.
5. Dilute Betadine or Monclavit in water, dilution 1 ml/l. Bathe your turtle daily for 30-40 minutes. The course is a month.
6. Smear the inflamed areas daily with an antifungal ointment, for example, Lamisil (Terbinofin) or Nizoral, Triderm, Akriderm. The course is 3-4 weeks. Any antifungal drug based on Terbinafine is also suitable. 
7. Soak a gauze or cotton wool with a ready-made solution of chlorhexidine, cover with polyethylene and fix it on the lower shell with a plaster. Change the compress daily, and leave for the whole day. Periodically, you need to leave the plastron open and let it dry.
8. In the event that the turtle’s shells are bleeding, or the mouth or nose is bleeding, it is necessary to give ascorbic acid (vitamin C) daily, as well as to prick Dicinon (0,5 ml / 1 kg of the turtle once every other day), which helps to stop bleeding and strengthens the walls of blood vessels. 

The turtle may also need a course of antibiotics, vitamins, and some other drugs. In any case, it is best to take the turtle to a knowledgeable veterinarian.

You will not see the result – there will simply be no further defeat.