Reptiles and Amphibians Q&A 09

During the necropsy of an adult African leopard tortoise, this piece of liver tissue was found. When placed into formalin solution for preservation, it did not sink.

Question	Answer		Article
What is your interpretation of this liver tissue?	The liver tissue is heavily infiltrated with fat.		[[|Link to Article]]
What common husbandry practice is likely to have induced the changes found in the liver of this tortoise?	Fatty infiltration of the liver can be induced by numerous metabolic, toxic and some infectious causes. Most often, this alteration of liver is caused by diets rich in readily available dietary fats, eg, commercial dog, cat and primate food. Most tortoises are facultative herbivores and, thus, thrive on a diet of high-quality nutritive vegetable fibre.		[[|Link to Article]]