Spinal Cord Ischemic Necrosis due to Fibrocartilaginous Embolism in a Horse

infected with P. testudinis, the difference (8/20 versus 2/23) is significant (P < 0.05 by Fisher’s test). Pasteurella testudinis may play a more specific role in abscesses of turtles than in the other conditions in which it was encountered, as suggested by its occurrence in pure culture and appreciable numbers (3+ or 4+) that was limited to 6 such cases, apart from 1 instance of apparent bacteremia in a tortoise in which liver and lung yielded similar results. Further, in the 15 cases found in a retrospective search of our laboratory records for microorganisms recovered from abscesses in tortoises and turtles (1984-1989), P. testudinis was present on 8 occasions and a variety of organisms were found in the other 7 cases, including Proteus, Clostridium, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, and Pasteurella species. No 2 cases lacking P. testudinis had any bacterial flora in common. The sparse pertinent literature, although recognizing abscesses of chelonians, particularly those related to the ear, as common problems, points to no single or even predominant etiologic agents. The broad assortment of agents reported includes various members of the family Enterobacteriaceae, 1,2,6 but also Aeromonas sp., Pseudomonas sp., 2,6 Corynebacterium murium, 1 Branhamella (Neisseria) catarrhalis, Streptomyces sp., and Pasteurella sp. Most reports antedate the description of P. testudinis. The apparent prominence of P. testudinis in turtle abscesses does not necessarily point to a specific pathogenic role of the agent in this condition. As a common commensal, it may simply be in a preferential position to exploit the established chelonian propensity toward middle ear problems, particularly manifest in turtles.