# Disorders of the Female Reproductive Tract in Chelonians: A Review

## TL;DR

This paper reviews female reproductive disorders in chelonians and outlines diagnostic and treatment methods for managing these conditions in captivity.

## Contribution

The paper provides a comprehensive overview of diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for female reproductive tract disorders in chelonians.

## Key findings

- Common disorders include dystocia, ectopic eggs, and oophoritis.
- Diagnostic techniques like ultrasound and endoscopy are essential for accurate diagnosis.
- Surgical intervention is often necessary when medical therapy fails.

## Abstract

Knowledge of reproductive biology and related disorders is fundamental in the clinical management of captive chelonians. This literature review provides an overview of the main pathological conditions that afflict the female genital tract of these animals; for each condition, the practical and effective diagnostic and therapeutic procedures are described. The reported disorders are dystocia, ectopic eggs, follicular stasis, infertility, oophoritis, salpingitis, cloacitis, cloacal/oviductal prolapse, tumors, and ovarian torsion. A thorough clinical examination, associated with an accurate medical history collection and diagnostic tests, such as ultrasound, radiography, CT, and endoscopy, is essential for making an accurate diagnosis. Surgery is often required if medical therapy proves to be unsuccessful.

Understanding reproductive biology and associated disorders is crucial for the clinical management of chelonians, particularly those maintained in captivity. This literature review presents an overview of the main pathological conditions affecting the female reproductive tract of these animals. For each condition, practical and effective diagnostic and therapeutic procedures are detailed. Commonly observed disorders include dystocia, ectopic eggs, follicular stasis, infertility, oophoritis, salpingitis, cloacitis, cloacal or oviductal prolapse, neoplasms, and ovarian torsion. The fundamental approach to these conditions always involves a thorough clinical examination, which requires extensive knowledge of the species, a clinical history, and management practices. Diagnostic procedures include physical exams, imaging techniques (ultrasound, radiography, CT, endoscopy), and surgical interventions. A shared feature of many pathologies is the influence of management errors and the presence of non-specific clinical signs.