An Epizootic of Amoebiasis in a Mixed Species Collection of Juvenile Tortoises

ABSTRACT Over one year, 21 juvenile tortoises from four species died at a zoological park in Florida. The species were gopher tortoise, Gopherus polymerus; West African spurred tortoise, Geochelone sulcata; amazonian yellow footed tortoise, Geochelone denticulata and the loggerhead musk turtle, Stemotherus m. minor. Histopathological examination revealed infection with an Entamoeba species. The clinical, pathological, treatment protocols and epizootilogical features of the outbreak are presented. No difference in susceptibility to infection was found between the four species. Fecal flotations and direct microscopic examination of feces were ineffective in diagnosing the infection.