Vet Guide 2025: Herpesvirus Infections in Reptiles & Amphibians 🦎🐢 by Dr Duncan Houston 🩺

Hello! I’m Dr Duncan Houston, BVSc and founder of Ask A Vet. Herpesviruses are a family of DNA viruses infecting reptiles and some amphibians, notably turtles, tortoises, freshwater turtles, and lizards. In 2025, awareness and diagnostics have advanced—but effective treatments remain limited. This guide explains causes,who is at risk, clinical signs, diagnostics, treatment, quarantine and prevention approaches to help your pet thrive.

1. What Are Reptilian Herpesviruses?

Herpesviruses in reptiles belong mainly to the family Herpesviridae and Alloherpesviridae. They cause latent infections, meaning an animal may test positive long after clinical signs resolve. A variety of herpesviruses have been documented in turtles, tortoises, green sea turtles (including fibropapillomatosis), and lizards such as bearded dragons :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}.

2. Species Most Affected

• Chelonians (turtles & tortoises): common targets, with oral lesions, hepatitis and sometimes fibropapillomatosis in sea turtles :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}.
• Freshwater turtles & tortoises: herpes often leads to liver cell death, anorexia, regurgitation, mouth/nasal discharge :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}.
• Lizards (eg. bearded dragons): severe hepatitis, stomatitis, lethargy, diarrhea—high morbidity in juveniles, some recover with supportive care :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}.
• Amphibians: herpesvirus causes Lucké tumors—renal adenocarcinoma—in northern leopard frogs from virus Ranid herpesvirus 1 :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}.

3. Transmission & Lifecycle

Transmission is through direct contact with secretions (oral, fecal), vertical transfer (in some species), and possibly environmental surfaces. Herpesviruses are sensitive to heat/desiccation and usually don’t persist for long outside the host :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}.

4. Clinical Signs to Watch For

• Oral/respiratory: stomatitis, mucosal ulcers, nasal/ocular discharge, anorexia, regurgitation :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}.
• Systemic: lethargy, hepatic signs (jaundice, ascites), diarrhea, sudden death :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}.
• Growths: fibropapillomas on sea turtles—gray masses on flippers/eyes/shell, may impair mobility :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}.
• Tumors in amphibians: Lucké tumor is viral‐associated adenocarcinoma in frogs :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}.

5. Diagnostic Approach

• PCR testing from oral, cloacal or liver swabs is reliable :contentReference[oaicite:13]{index=13}.
• Histopathology/cytology: detects intranuclear inclusion bodies in lesions from liver, oral mucosa or tumors :contentReference[oaicite:14]{index=14}.
• Imaging: ultrasound or radiographs to check for tumors or hepatomegaly.

6. Treatment & Supportive Care

There is no cure. Treatment focuses on alleviating symptoms and preventing secondary disease:

• Antivirals: topical or oral acyclovir has been used in tortoises for oral lesions, though efficacy is limited :contentReference[oaicite:15]{index=15}.
• Supportive therapy: fluids, nutritional support (force-feeding), heat and supplemental oxygen.
• Antibiotics: treat secondary bacterial/fungal infections.
• Surgical removal: indicated for fibropapillomas impacting function in turtles :contentReference[oaicite:16]{index=16}.

7. Prognosis

• Varies widely: acute fulminant disease often fatal.
• Juvenile bearded dragons may recover with intensive care :contentReference[oaicite:17]{index=17}.
• Sea turtles with fibropapillomas sometimes improve post‑tumor removal and reduced crowding :contentReference[oaicite:18]{index=18}.
• Frogs with Lucké tumors usually have poor outcomes; supportive care only :contentReference[oaicite:19]{index=19}.

8. Quarantine & Prevention

• Isolate affected animals and test entire collection.
• Disinfect enclosures: use heat, bleach or phenolic disinfectants—herpesviruses are fragile outside hosts :contentReference[oaicite:20]{index=20}.
• Minimize crowding and stress; reduce temperature/humidity extremes.
• Quarantine new arrivals >60 days with PCR screening.
• Avoid mixing species (e.g., turtles with tortoises).

9. Ask A Vet Support 🩺

If you notice oral lesions, discharge, growths, or lethargy in your pet, consult Ask A Vet. Upload photos, PCR results, scans, and clinical notes through our app for personalized diagnoses, antiviral dosing suggestions, and quarantine planning. Visit AskAVet.com 📱

10. Final Thoughts

Herpesvirus infections in reptiles and amphibians are widespread but manageable with early detection, isolation, supportive care, and biosecurity. Whether it’s oral lesions in tortoises, fibropapillomas in sea turtles, or hepatitis in lizards, Ask A Vet offers expert guidance for diagnostics, care strategies, and long-term collection health—helping your exotic pet thrive in 2025 and beyond. 🩺🌿

— Dr Duncan Houston, BVSc