Aquaculture Reports (Aug 2024)
Infectious diseases of the Chinese soft-shelled turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis): A focus on etiological agents and predisposing factors
Abstract
The Chinese soft-shelled turtle (CSST) (Pelodiscus sinensis) is the most farmed reptile in Asia because of its high nutritional and medicinal value. Increase in production due to intensified culture has led to increase in infectious diseases adversely impacting the CSST industry. To develop effective disease control strategies there is need for a comprehensive understanding of major diseases and predisposing factors leading to infections in CSSTs. Thus, this review puts together a summation of diseases adversely impacting the CSST industry. Major viral diseases include the red neck disease caused by the soft-shelled turtle iridovirus (STIV), soft-shelled turtle systemic septicemia (STSS) caused by STSS spherical virus (STSSSV) and trionyx sinensis hemorrhagic syndrome (TSHS) caused by TSHS virus (TSHSV). Bacteria cause the largest proportion of infectious diseases in CSSTs with the majority being caused by Aeromonas and Bacillus spp. They include the red neck, hemorrhagic septicemia, furunculosis, and red spot diseases caused by different Aeromonas spp. as well as craned neck, twisted necks and generalized edema caused by Bacillus spp. As for predisposing factors, the amphibious nature of CSSTs could be a disposure to waterborne pathogens like Aeromonas, Edwardsiella, Flavobacterium and Vibrio spp. during habitation in aquatic environments while exposure to saprophytic pathogens like Bacillus spp. could be linked to hibernation. Also, the omnivorous nature of CSSTs could be a disposure to ingestion of infected organisms while the presence of feral species can be a source of contact with infected feral species. Overall, this review identifies priority diseases that need vaccine development, and it also highlights the predisposing factors needed for the design of effective disease control measures.
