FUNGAL KERATITIS IN A GOPHER TORTOISE (GOPHERUS POLYPHEMUS) Debbie A. Myers, D.V.M., Ramiro Isaza, D.V.M., M.S., Dipl. A.C.Z.M., Gil Ben-Shlomo, D.V.M., Jeffrey Abbott, D.V.M., Ph.D., and Caryn E. Plummer, D.V.M., Dipl. A.C.V.O. Abstract: A free-ranging gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) presented for trauma and blindness. Fibrinous exudate obscured visualization of the globes. This exudative crust extended from the conjunctival fornices through the palpebral fissure and was manually removed. Ophthalmic examination revealed bilateral corneal ulcerations and scarring and phthisis bulbi of the left globe. Histology of the crust revealed a necrotic conjunctivitis with intralesional fungal hyphae. Culture of the corneal ulcer of the left eye isolated moderate growth of a mixed fungal flora consisting of Curvularia sp. and Aspergillus sp. Miconazole ophthalmic solution was administered and the ulcers in both eyes healed, but corneal edema continued. After 2 mo of treatment with miconazole, tramadol, acetylcysteine, hypertonic saline ointment, artificial tears, and hypertonic saline flushes, the right eye was normal with only a small scar. The left eye remained phthisical. This is the first report of fungal keratitis in a wild reptile and a gopher tortoise. Key words: Aspergillus, Curvularia, fungal keratitis, gopher tortoise, Gopherus polyphemus, miconazole. BRIEF COMMUNICATION An adult male free-ranging gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) was presented to Univer- sity of Florida Veterinary Medical Center (Gainesville, Florida, USA). On physical exam, the tortoise was bright, alert, and in good body condition. The eyelids were sealed together bilaterally by a fibrinous exudate that precluded ocular examination. There was also scarring, old puncture wounds, and scratches into the super- ficial layer of the carapace. Sterile saline flushed around the eyelids did not dislodge the exudate, which was firmly adhered to underlying struc- tures. A complete blood count was performed, and all parameters were within normal limits. The tortoise seemed healthy aside from its ocular disease. Because exudate was obscuring visualization of the globes and there was concern about the integrity of the ocular structure, transpalpebral ultrasonic examination of the globes was per- formed (I 3 System-Abd TM , B-scan probe 20 MHz, Ellex Inc., Sacramento, California 94023, USA) and did not reveal any abnormalities. The eyes seemed present and intact, and both anterior and vitreal chambers of both eyes (oculi uterque [OU]) could be seen. Although measurements of the axial globe length and chamber depths were not made due to the overall small size of the eyes, the left eye (oculus sinister [OS]) was subjectively determined to be small. Application of 5% acetylcysteine (Acetadote, Cumberland Pharma- ceuticals Inc., Nashville, Tennessee 37203, USA) OU q8h was begun in an attempt to dissolve the exudate and facilitate its removal. Tramadol (Ultram, ORTHO-McNeil Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC, Titusville, New Jersey 08560, USA; 10 mg/ml) was started at 1 mg/kg p.o. q24h for analgesia. Bacitracin-neomycin-poly- myxin ointment (TriOptic-P, Pfizer Inc., New York, New York 10017, USA) also was applied q8h along the eyelid margins for treatment of infection. The eyelids OU had become less edematous, and the exudative crusts precluding complete ophthalmic examination were able to be manually removed. The tortoise continued to have moderate blepharitis and blepharospasm OU, but slit lamp biomicroscopy (Kowa SL-15, Kowa Optimed, Inc., Torrance, California 90502, USA) of the anterior segments of both eyes was able to be performed. The right eye had an intact globe and dazzle reflex. The palpebral conjunc- tiva was hyperemic and chemotic. Bulbar con- junctiva could not be easily appreciated. The cornea was moderately edematous and ulceration was present. The anterior one third of the stroma was absent from the axial cornea and there was retention of fluorescein stain (Fluorets, Akorn Inc., Buffalo Grove, Illinois 60089, USA), indicating absence of corneal epithelium. Visual- ization of the pupil and lens was difficult, but no severe abnormalities were noted. Examination of the posterior segment was not possible due to From the University of Florida, College of Veteri- nary Medicine, Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, P.O. Box 100101, Gainesville, Florida 32610-0101, USA (Myers, Isaza, Ben-Shlomo, Abbott, Plummer). Correspondence should be directed to Dr. Myers (dmyersvet@yahoo.com). Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 40(3): 579–582, 2009 Copyright 2009 by American Association of Zoo Veterinarians 579