Ranavirus positive test result

[Patientgrowing]

Hi everyone, wanted to provide an update to the sick sulcata I posted about back in late December that passed away after a week in the vets care. UF finally came back with the histology & PCR results from the necropsy and he was positive for ranavirus. Symptoms i noticed were weakness in the front legs, lethargy, and complete lack of appetite. I took him into the emergency vet on the second day of symptoms, and he passed away a week later without any of the other typical ranavirus symptoms.

Wanted to ask for anyone’s advice and experience with this virus in tortoises. I have 2 juvenile Aldabras in a separate enclosure that appear healthy, but this has me really worried about local frogs/lizards/toads that could be carrying this virus. Taking my Aldabras in for testing next weds, not sure if Aldabras can become infected with the same virus and if they can I’m not sure how serious the infection would be compared to other tortoise species.

What would you guys do as far as prevention goes? Next to impossible to keep small reptiles and amphibians out of my tortoises enclosure, I’m at a loss for what to do moving forward.

Thanks in advance

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

Maybe @turtlesteve or @zovick can weigh in?

 

[Tom]

Hi everyone, wanted to provide an update to the sick sulcata I posted about back in late December that passed away after a week in the vets care. UF finally came back with the histology & PCR results from the necropsy and he was positive for ranavirus. Symptoms i noticed were weakness in the front legs, lethargy, and complete lack of appetite. I took him into the emergency vet on the second day of symptoms, and he passed away a week later without any of the other typical ranavirus symptoms.

Wanted to ask for anyone’s advice and experience with this virus in tortoises. I have 2 juvenile Aldabras in a separate enclosure that appear healthy, but this has me really worried about local frogs/lizards/toads that could be carrying this virus. Taking my Aldabras in for testing next weds, not sure if Aldabras can become infected with the same virus and if they can I’m not sure how serious the infection would be compared to other tortoise species.

What would you guys do as far as prevention goes? Next to impossible to keep small reptiles and amphibians out of my tortoises enclosure, I’m at a loss for what to do moving forward.

Thanks in advance

I have no experience with Ranavirus, so let me invite two of our most knowledgable members to comment:
@Dustin
@turtlesteve

 

[turtlesteve]

I have no experience with Ranavirus or what typical symptoms are. I was able to find this fact sheet and it seems to indicate similar symptoms to what you observed.

https://www.vet.upenn.edu/docs/default-source/research/pa-wildlife-futures-program/wfp-fact-sheet-ranavirus_3.pdf?sfvrsn=374ef9ba_0

Unfortunately with viral pathogens like this, we currently have no treatments.

I would consider any turtle or tortoise to be at risk of being susceptible and I really don’t know what to suggest beyond trying to keep out any wild reptiles or amphibians, which I understand is an almost impossible task for outdoor housing.

Steve

 

[mark1]

you might have an interest in reading this article......


"The survival rate among turtles that were FV3-like virus–positive by qPCR was 58% (11 of 19)."



RANAVIRUS EPIZOOTIC IN CAPTIVE EASTERN BOX TURTLES (TERRAPENE CAROLINA CAROLINA) WITH CONCURRENT HERPESVIRUS AND MYCOPLASMA INFECTION: MANAGEMENT AND MONITORING

 

[Dustin]

I have screened our tortoises for Ranavirus but never had a positive result. I don't have any experience with it beyond that. Please let us know how the testing goes on your other animals. Ask you vet to talk to UF about the sampling technique and likelihood of detecting the virus in a single test.

How long did you have the Sulcata for and what was its histor? Was it straight from breeder to your collection?

You are right, there isn't much you can do about frogs and lizards in Florida. You can collect and euthanize any of the invasive cuban tree frogs, cane toads and agamas though which comprise the majority of the population now.

 

[Patientgrowing]

I have screened our tortoises for Ranavirus but never had a positive result. I don't have any experience with it beyond that. Please let us know how the testing goes on your other animals. Ask you vet to talk to UF about the sampling technique and likelihood of detecting the virus in a single test.

How long did you have the Sulcata for and what was its histor? Was it straight from breeder to your collection?

You are right, there isn't much you can do about frogs and lizards in Florida. You can collect and euthanize any of the invasive cuban tree frogs, cane toads and agamas though which comprise the majority of the population now.

Sorry for the late response, i had owned the sulcata for ~14 months and got him from a pet store originally. He seemed to do very well the entire time i had him, had a strong appetite and had been gaining weight consistently.

The UF report describes a multi site histology, they examined liver, spleen, large intestine, lung, kidney, adrenal, trachea, kidney, heart, liver, small intestine, and esophagus. They determined frog virus 3 like ranavirus was the likely culprit based on this, then followed up with a qPCR test which confirmed the ranavirus diagnosis.

Their original comments on the necropsy included: vascular necrosis, hemorrhage, necrotizing inflammation of the oral cavity and trachea, and necrosis and vasculitis in the liver, kidney, and spleen.

Brought in my Aldabras for cloaca swab testing last week, should get results back today or possibly next week. They both seem to be doing very well though, hoping for the best.

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

Brought in my Aldabras for cloaca swab testing last week, should get results back today or possibly next week. They both seem to be doing very well though, hoping for the best.

I really do hope your other tortoises didn't catch it!

 

[Patientgrowing]

I really do hope your other tortoises didn't catch it!

Fingers crossed, I’ll come back with an update once the results are in. If they do test positive, I’m praying they have an asymptomatic case and they can continue to live long and healthy lives.

 

[Patientgrowing]

I really do hope your other tortoises didn't catch it!

Just got the pcr results back, both of my other tortoises tested negative. Huge relief, I’ve been stressing big time these last few weeks

 

[zovick]

Just got the pcr results back, both of my other tortoises tested negative. Huge relief, I’ve been stressing big time these last few weeks

That's good news for sure.

 

[Tim Carlisle]

Wow. Never heard of ranavirus. Something new to research. Any idea how your sully contracted it?

 

[Patientgrowing]

Wow. Never heard of ranavirus. Something new to research. Any idea how your sully contracted it?

No idea but my best guess is that he’s had it since before i got him and was just asymptomatic the 14 months i had him. Alternatively an infected frog or lizard could have died in his enclosure and he ate the corpse, or possibly ate poop from an infected lizard/frog/toad.

 

[Tim Carlisle]

No idea but my best guess is that he’s had it since before i got him and was just asymptomatic the 14 months i had him. Alternatively an infected frog or lizard could have died in his enclosure and he ate the corpse, or possibly ate poop from an infected lizard/frog/toad.

I was reading that tainted pond water can carry the virus too. My concern is that I have 3 ponds in my enclosure, but the water is filtered and I clean them out several times per year. Every once in a while i find coon crap in the grass.

 

[turtlesteve]

Being asymptomatic and suddenly falling ill seems less likely to me than a sudden infection from a wild reptile or amphibian. Either way, scary stuff. Glad your other two are OK.

 

[Dustin]

Did you ask if Ranavirus only needs a single test versus repeated testing for some period of time?

 

[Patientgrowing]

No i didn’t ask that specifically, but from what i understand the incubation period is short so if they were going to get infected they should be positive at this point.

If i notice any sluggishness or otherwise acting weird I’ll take them in for retest. It’ll be a moot point though because there is no effective treatment at this time sadly.