ABSTRACT

Chelonid herpesviruses are the cause of one of the most serious and widespread diseases in tortoises. These viral agents cause significant morbidity and mortality in several species of tortoises. Herpesvirus infection is associated with a variety of signs, the most common of which are stomatitis-rhinitis complex and conjunctivitis. Therapy with acyclovir has been advocated, along with the use of immunomodulators and antibiotic therapy, but the antiviral dosage is empirical and derived from human medicine.

In this study acyclovir was administered to seven adult marginated tortoises, Testudo marginata, to determine the pharmacokinetics of a single oral dose.