>>Dear PhRatz, I do not know the fate or treatment regime for this unfortunate California Desert Tortoise. It just had this dramatic and devastating herpes outbreak. Its owner is very fastidious, would not allow other tortoises on the property, we were both blown away at this unfortunate event, as she was so careful/selective. I will give her a call and find out what happened. Last I heard is that a feeding tube was "installed" and things were not going well... Also, there was no known exposure to Russians or any other tortoise, the source is a mystery except it must/may have been there all along. Vic

Oh ok I mistunderstood, I thought the tortoise had belonged to you. From what you've stated here though I'd agree that it sounds like the virus was there all along then one day it reared it's ugly head.
This happens a lot in pet rat keeping, they can harbor diseases that only affect them without symptoms for a long time then something, who knows what, will happen and the disease suddenly makes them sick. I see this often in rats, there's no reason to think this doesn't happen with other animal species (humans too) but I'm sure it's been a heartbreaking thing to see in something as regal as a desert tortoise. What a shame for that poor tortoise.
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PHRatz

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