Successful Surgical Excision of a Chronic Abscess in a Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata): A Case Report.

In sea turtles, soft tissue abscesses typically present with a solid, caseous consistency and respond poorly to pharmacological treatment. A hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) exhibited a chronic subcutaneous mass near the cloacal region that had persisted for three years. Histopathological examination confirmed the existence of an abscess composed of concentric necrotic layers and chronic inflammatory cell infiltration, with no detectable pathogens. The lesion was surgically excised under local anesthesia with a radiofrequency electrosurgical unit, minimizing bleeding and operation time. Postoperative management consisted of oral antibiotic administration to minimize handling stress. The turtle recovered uneventfully, with no complications or recurrence during the two-month follow-up period. This case highlights that chronic abscesses in sea turtles require surgical excision as the most effective therapeutic approach and provides practical insights for marine reptile medicine.