Gross Necropsy and Histopathologic Findings in Imported Impressed Tortoises, Manouria Impressa: Seventeen Cases

ABSTRACT The impressed tortoise, Manouria impressa, is a poorly known, primitive species found in montane forests of Burma, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and southern China. It is notoriously difficult to acclimate to captivity, and no published reports of captive breeding exist. Post-mortem evaluation of seventeen M. impressa imported into the United States between 1996 and 2004 showed a high incidence of gastrointestinal, hepatic, and renal lesions. Possible stressors favoring illness in these specimens include lengthy transit in the live animal trade, and dietary specialization.