Re: HELP!!!! VERY SICK HINGBACK!

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Posted by Terry on October 23, 2000 at 11:57:26:

In Reply to: HELP!!!! VERY SICK HINGBACK! posted by JP on October 22, 2000 at 23:45:25:

Hi JP,
hinge back torts are commonly infested with internal parasites.
Hexamita parva is not unusual in this species.
Hexamita is a very nasty flagellate infection of the renal system, caused by the organismn Hexamita parva.
Anorexia, loss of weight, excessive drinking can all be signs of Hexamita.
Other symptoms include very strong smelling urine, or urine flecked with blood, or tinged green.
To detect Hexamita the vet must test the tortoises urine,it will not show up in a stool sample.A strong microscope of 400x magnification or greater will be needed as hexamita are very small.
Hexamita is fatal if not treated, and I would suspect Hexamita in a hingeback that is displaying the symptoms you describe.

My advise take the tortoise to a qualified reptile vet, that specialises in tortoises / turtles.
Make sure that both stool and urine samples are tested.Don't delay.

The "stool" you saw in the tortoises urine sounds like uric acid ( urates) often creamy in color and gel like. Nothing to worry about there, although the tortoise could have been dehydrated when you first got it.

Anyway, hexamita could be the cause of your tortoises illness, or/and possibly other parasitic dideases.
Hope this helps, best of luck,
Terry.
PS: For more info on Hexamita visit the link below.And you will find a care sheet here:

http://www.tortoisetrust.org/care/ckinixys.html

Protozoan infections in chelonians.

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Comments:
: Hi JP, : hinge back torts are commonly infested with internal parasites. : Hexamita parva is not unusual in this species. : Hexamita is a very nasty flagellate infection of the renal system, caused by the organismn Hexamita parva. : Anorexia, loss of weight, excessive drinking can all be signs of Hexamita. : Other symptoms include very strong smelling urine, or urine flecked with blood, or tinged green. : To detect Hexamita the vet must test the tortoises urine,it will not show up in a stool sample.A strong microscope of 400x magnification or greater will be needed as hexamita are very small. : Hexamita is fatal if not treated, and I would suspect Hexamita in a hingeback that is displaying the symptoms you describe. : My advise take the tortoise to a qualified reptile vet, that specialises in tortoises / turtles. : Make sure that both stool and urine samples are tested.Don't delay. : The "stool" you saw in the tortoises urine sounds like uric acid ( urates) often creamy in color and gel like. Nothing to worry about there, although the tortoise could have been dehydrated when you first got it. : Anyway, hexamita could be the cause of your tortoises illness, or/and possibly other parasitic dideases. : Hope this helps, best of luck, : Terry. : PS: For more info on Hexamita visit the link below.And you will find a care sheet here: : http://www.tortoisetrust.org/care/ckinixys.html :

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