Investigation on Emphysema Disease of Mauremys mutica in Guangxi

Emphysema disease was observed in captive Mauremys mutica at a breeding center in Guangxi Province, China. This disease was characterized by an accumulation of air in the subcutaneous tissue, particularly in the neck and limbs, resulting in edema and a swollen appearance. The affected turtles showed no signs of respiratory distress or other clinical symptoms.

To investigate the cause of emphysema disease, a total of 20 turtles, including 10 affected and 10 unaffected turtles, were examined. Blood samples were collected for hematological and biochemical analysis, and tissue samples were collected for histopathological examination.

Results showed that the affected turtles had significantly higher levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase (CK) in their blood compared to the unaffected turtles. Histopathological examination revealed that the affected turtles had severe subcutaneous emphysema, with large amounts of air in the interstitial spaces between muscle fibers and connective tissue.

Bacterial culture and sensitivity tests were also performed on the affected turtles, but no bacterial growth was observed. However, PCR analysis detected the presence of Mycoplasma sp. in the affected turtles.

In conclusion, the results of this investigation suggest that emphysema disease in Mauremys mutica may be related to Mycoplasma infection. Further studies are needed to confirm this hypothesis and to determine the best treatment and prevention strategies for this disease.