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Author T. Franciscus Scheelings, BVSc, MVSc, PhD, MANCVSc (Wildlife Health) DECZM (Herpetology)
Diarrhea
DEFINITION/OVERVIEW
Diarrhea is the production of unformed or liquid fecal matter. It is often associated with increased fecal volume and frequency of defection.
ETIOLOGY/PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
Diarrhea is usually associated with enteritis due to primary infectious (e.g., endoparasites) or non‐infectious (e.g., dietary) causes.
In tortoises with a natural diet high in dietary fiber (e.g., African and European tortoises) ingestion of diets high in fermentable carbohydrates (e.g., fruits) and/ or insufficient fiber ingestion can result in dysbacteriosis, which can result in diarrhea.
Environmental factors, such as low temperatures, lead to decreased gastrointestinal motility, dysbacteriosis and diarrhea due overgrowth of opportunistic pathogens.
Diarrhea is common in tortoises, but uncommon in freshwater turtles, which normally have unformed liquid feces.
Most commonly kept tortoise species require a high‐fiber, low sugar, and low protein diet, and therefore feeding large amounts of fresh fruits and starch containing vegetables will frequently lead to unformed feces or diarrhea.
The following endoparasites can be associated with diarrhea in tortoises:nematodes: oxyurids are very common in tortoises; ascarids are reported in wild‐ caught Testudo spp. (European tortoises) in captivity; other nematodes such as Strongyloides and Capillaria are uncommoncoccidia: uncommonciliated protozoa: Nyctotherus spp., Balantidium spp., Entamoeba spp. (E. invadens)flagellates: Trichomonas spp.
Bacteria: Proteus and Salmonella spp. are often asymptomatic carriers, but can lead to diarrhea.
SIGNALMENT/HISTORY
Diarrhea is more common in tortoises than in turtles.
Inappropriate husbandry: low environmental temperatures and overcrowding (stress) can lead to enteritis and diarrhea.
Inappropriate diet: tortoises fed a low‐fiber diet, high in fermentable sugars and protein, are prone to develop diarrhea.
Owners report liquid feces, frequently malodorous, with increased frequency of defecation.
Straining to defecate, anorexia, and cloacal prolapse may also be reported.
CLINICAL PRESENTATION
Depending on duration (acute vs. chronic), severity and etiology of diarrhea.
Fecal staining around cloaca, and ventral aspects of proximal hind limbs and tail base.
Presence of abnormally soft or liquid fecal matter in transport container.
Tortoises with diarrhea caused by an inappropriate diet might show no other clinical signs or may show unspecific clinical signs, such as lethargy, reduced food intake, or dehydration.
Chronic diarrhea can lead to weight loss and cachexia due to malabsorption of nutrients.
Cloacal tissue prolapse, such as rectal/distal colon prolapse, or true cloacal prolapse.
RISK FACTORS
Husbandry
In most tortoises (except red‐ and yellow‐ footed tortoises)—diet low in fiber and/or high in fermentable simple carbohydrates (e.g., fruits).
Change in diet
Poor sanitation can lead to high endoparasite load due to the direct lifecycle of many intestinal parasites of chelonians.
Overcrowding results in stress
Inappropriate (too low or too high) environmental temperatures.
Others
Wild‐caught animals often have a high endoparasite load and are often stressed during acclimatization to captivity.
Lack of fecal parasitology screening after acquisition.
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
Enteritis - bacterial, parasitic, dietary DIAGNOSTICS
DIAGNOSTICS
Fecal direct
