Herpes confirmed in Horsfields purchased online

Important Announcement Released by the Tortoise Trust 12 June 2008

 

We have been waiting to be in a position to release this for some time, but
until we had a definitive autopsy report to rely on could not do so for legal
reasons. We have now received such a report.

It has been our opinion for some time that many of the health problems being
reported in imported Russian (Testudo horsfieldii) and Hermann's tortoises
(Testudo hermanni) were highly suggestive of the presence of herpes-virus. We
have received information from various sources that further suggested to us
that some of the online suppliers involved have been fully aware of this
problem for several months, but have continued to sell animals regardless of the
potential for spreading this highly lethal disease to existing tortoise
collections.

Because of the way in which this virus spreads, it is very, very probable
that some of these dealers have an endemic problem. That is certainly the view
of more than one veterinary surgeon we have heard from recently. As such, any
tortoise from such sources needs to be treated as a potential carrier. Our
advice is to have suspect animals screened urgently and to maintain the
strictest possible quarantine and hygiene measures when handling them. We know from
previous experience that this virus can be "dormant" for up to 10 years
before producing symptom (though 2-3 years would be more typical). To get an idea
of just how devastating this disease is in chelonia please see:

http://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/herpes.html 

or read the following article which includes recently frequently asked questions about this dreadful disease:

http://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/herpeswarning.htm

In the current (confirmed) case the vet involved is very respected in this
field is one that we often recommend. The owner has given us permission to
release this information. We are not able to name the supplier involved
(although we are in possession of this information), all we can say is that if you
have any animals from such a source you need to be extremely careful (as
outlined above) and if you are thinking of acquiring tortoises from such a source
we would strongly advise you to think again. It is quite possible that this
disease is very well established in trade tortoises generally. It is
inconceivable that a single animal could be affected in isolation.

Andy Highfield