Intestinal Cryptosporidium sp. infection in the Egyptian tortoise, Testudo kleinmanni

An adult Egyptian tortoise (Testudo kleinmanni) presented with clinical signs of enteritis and died 5 weeks after initiation of antibiotic therapy. Histological examination of the small intestine revealed heavy infection with Cryptosporidium sp.; over 80% of epithelial cells harboured the pathogen. No Cryptosporidium developmental stages were present in the stomach or the lungs. The intestinal lamina propria and mucosa were infiltrated by heterophils, lymphocytes and macrophages. The present study constitutes the first report of Cryptosporidium sp. infection in T. kleinmanni, and the first histological documentation of intestinal cryptosporidiosis in Chelonia.