Abstract
Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is a gram-negative bacterial organism that can be routinely identified in the aquatic environment, however, represents an emergent, multi-drug resistant organism that can be life-threatening in the right clinical scenario.1 S. maltophilia was identified as a possible causative agent in cases of polysystemic abscessation in three diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin) and one mata mata (Chelus fimbriata) housed at a single institution. Affected chelonians presented with lethargy, hyporexia, and multi-focal, subcutaneous nodules diagnosed on physical examination (n=4) and confirmed via computed tomography (CT) (n=1). The most common clinical pathology finding was a moderate to severe leukocytosis characterized by a heterophilia and all turtles were treated with a combination of supportive care, systemic antibiotics, and/or surgical resection of subcutaneous nodules. Despite intensive medical and surgical management, patients were ultimately euthanized due to lack of improvement and poor prognosis (n=3) or found deceased (n=1). Necropsy revealed multisystemic abscessation with cultures identifying growth of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. A post-mortem investigation into probable risk factors identified co-morbidities (including shell disease) (n=3), repeated administration of injectable antibiotics (n=4), and low environmental temperature (n=3) as possible contributing factors. This gram-negative bacterium is an emerging organism of concern and should be considered as a differential diagnosis in aquatic chelonians showing clinical signs of lethargy, hyporexia, and subcutaneous nodules.
*Presenting author
+Student presenter
Literature Cited
1. Looney WJ, Narita M, Muhlemann K. 2009. Stenotrophomonas maltophilia: an emerging opportunist human pathogen. THE LANCET Infectious Diseases. 9(5): 312–323.