Atrophic gastritis in a Hermann's tortoise (Testudo hermanni) and two red-eared turtles (Chrysemys scripta elegans)

Atrophic gastritis, with concomitant pseudopyloric metaplasia, occurred in a tortoise and 2 turtles. Mild gastritis, with some atrophy of gastric glands and minor loss or oxynticopeptic cells which were replaced by mucous cells, was observed in the Hermann 's tortoise (Testudo hermanni). Chronic atrophic gastritis, characterized by inflammation and atrophy of glandular elements, with changes resembling pseudopyloric metaplasia, was seen in 2 red-eared turtles (Chrysemys scripta elegans). The 3 animals had extensive renal lesions with von Kossa's stain-positive mineral deposits in the stomach and in other soft tissues. In 2 clinically normal red-eared turtles, the gastric fundic glands were of compound tubuloacinar type. whereas those of the cardiac and pyloric regions had a simple tubular structure.