scholarly journals Hematologic and biochemical characteristics of stranded green sea turtles

2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 423-429 ◽  
Author(s):  
Duane T. March ◽  
Kimberly Vinette-Herrin ◽  
Andrew Peters ◽  
Ellen Ariel ◽  
David Blyde ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Uric Acid ◽  
Sea Turtles ◽  
Chelonia Mydas ◽  
Blood Parameters ◽  
Reference Intervals ◽  
Prognostic Indicators ◽  
Protein Levels ◽  
Green Sea Turtles ◽  
Green Turtles ◽  
Lower Protein

To improve understanding of pathophysiologic processes occurring in green sea turtles ( Chelonia mydas) stranded along the east coast of Australia, we retrospectively examined the hematologic and biochemical blood parameters of 127 green turtles admitted to 2 rehabilitation facilities, Dolphin Marine Magic (DMM) and Taronga Zoo (TZ), between 2002 and 2016. The predominant size class presented was small immature animals (SIM), comprising 88% and 69% of admissions to DMM and TZ, respectively. Significant differences in blood profiles were noted between facility, size, and outcome. Elevated levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and heterophils were poor prognostic indicators in animals from TZ, but not DMM. SIM animals at both institutions had lower protein levels than large older (LO) animals. SIM animals at DMM also had lower hematocrit and monocyte concentration; SIM animals at TZ had lower heterophil counts. Urea was measured for 27 SIM animals from TZ, but the urea-to-uric acid ratio was not prognostically useful. Strong correlations were seen between AST and glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH; r = 0.68) and uric acid and bile acids ( r = 0.72) in the 45 SIM animals from DMM in which additional analytes were measured. χ2 contingency tests showed that the most recently published reference intervals were not prognostically useful. A paired t-test showed that protein levels rose and heterophil numbers fell in the 15 SIM animals from TZ during the rehabilitation process. Our results indicate that further work is required to identify reliable prognostic biomarkers for green turtles.

Monitoring green sea turtles in Brazilian feeding areas: relating body condition index to fibropapillomatosis prevalence

2019 ◽  
Vol 99 (8) ◽  
pp. 1879-1887 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silmara Rossi ◽  
Angélica María Sánchez-Sarmiento ◽  
Robson Guimarães dos Santos ◽  
Roberta Ramblas Zamana ◽  
Fabiola Eloisa Setim Prioste ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Sea Turtles ◽  
Chelonia Mydas ◽  
Condition Index ◽  
Sea Turtle ◽  
The Body ◽  
Body Condition Index ◽  
Green Sea Turtles ◽  
Green Turtles

AbstractFibropapillomatosis (FP) can be an important conservation threat to green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) due to its widespread distribution and complex aetiology. Thus, understanding the impacts of FP in sea turtle populations is a research priority towards conservation efforts. The body condition index (BCI), based on straight carapace length (SCL) and body mass (BM), is an accurate indicator of body-nutritional condition that can be used in routine green turtle health evaluations. This study aimed to compare BCI in FP-free (N = 369) and FP-affected (N = 518) green turtles from Brazilian feeding areas. Body condition indices were evaluated in terms of the South-west Atlantic Fibropapillomatosis Score – FPSSWA (mild, moderate and severe), study sites (five Brazilian states), origin (intentional capture, fishery, stranding and afloat) and sex (when known). Curved and straight carapace lengths, and body mass were recorded in order to calculate BCI. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences in BCI among green turtles from different study areas (P = 0.02), and lower BCI values in FP-free than in FP-positive individuals (P < 0.0001). With regards to origin, the highest BCI was found in the intentional capture group (N = 245; 1.47 ± 0.16), followed by fishery (N = 180; 1.46 ± 0.20). Analysis according to sex revealed a higher mean BCI among females than males (P < 0.017). This study provides relevant data on the health and nutritional status of green turtles along the Brazilian coast, in important feeding areas for this species.

Development and application of biochemical and haematological reference intervals to identify unhealthy green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas)

2010 ◽  
Vol 185 (3) ◽  
pp. 299-304 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Flint ◽  
John M. Morton ◽  
Colin J. Limpus ◽  
Janet C. Patterson-Kane ◽  
Peter J. Murray ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sea Turtles ◽  
Chelonia Mydas ◽  
Reference Intervals ◽  
Green Sea Turtles

scholarly journals Evidence for Host Selectivity and Specialization by Epizoic Chelonibia Barnacles Between Hawksbill and Green Sea Turtles

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liberty L. Boyd ◽  
John D. Zardus ◽  
Courtney M. Knauer ◽  
Lawrence D. Wood
Keyword(s):  
Sea Turtles ◽  
Shell Growth ◽  
Chelonia Mydas ◽  
Eretmochelys Imbricata ◽  
Turtle Species ◽  
Green Sea Turtles ◽  
Green Turtles ◽  
Microbial Biofilms ◽  
Host Relationships ◽  
Hawksbill Turtles

Epibionts are organisms that utilize the exterior of other organisms as a living substratum. Many affiliate opportunistically with hosts of different species, but others specialize on particular hosts as obligate associates. We investigated a case of apparent host specificity between two barnacles that are epizoites of sea turtles and illuminate some ecological considerations that may shape their host relationships. The barnacles Chelonibia testudinaria and Chelonibia caretta, though roughly similar in appearance, are separable by distinctions in morphology, genotype, and lifestyle. However, though each is known to colonize both green (Chelonia mydas) and hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) sea turtles, C. testudinaria is &gt;5 times more common on greens, while C. caretta is &gt;300 times more common on hawksbills. Two competing explanations for this asymmetry in barnacle incidence are either that the species’ larvae are spatially segregated in mutually exclusive host-encounter zones or their distributions overlap and the larvae behaviorally select their hosts from a common pool. We indirectly tested the latter by documenting the occurrence of adults of both barnacle species in two locations (SE Florida and Nose Be, Madagascar) where both turtle species co-mingle. For green and hawksbill turtles in both locations (Florida: n = 32 and n = 275, respectively; Madagascar: n = 32 and n = 125, respectively), we found that C. testudinaria occurred on green turtles only (percent occurrence – FL: 38.1%; MD: 6.3%), whereas the barnacle C. caretta was exclusively found on hawksbill turtles (FL: 82.2%; MD: 27.5%). These results support the hypothesis that the larvae of these barnacles differentially select host species from a shared supply. Physio-biochemical differences in host shell material, conspecific chemical cues, external microbial biofilms, and other surface signals may be salient factors in larval selectivity. Alternatively, barnacle presence may vary by host micro-environment. Dissimilarities in scute structure and shell growth between hawksbill and green turtles may promote critical differences in attachment modes observed between these barnacles. In understanding the co-evolution of barnacles and hosts it is key to consider the ecologies of both hosts and epibionts in interpreting associations of chance, choice, and dependence. Further studies are necessary to investigate the population status and settlement spectrum of barnacles inhabiting sea turtles.

scholarly journals Challenges in Evaluating the Severity of Fibropapillomatosis: A Proposal for Objective Index and Score System for Green Sea Turtles (Chelonia mydas) in Brazil

PLoS ONE ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. e0167632 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silmara Rossi ◽  
Angélica María Sánchez-Sarmiento ◽  
Ralph Eric Thijl Vanstreels ◽  
Robson Guimarães dos Santos ◽  
Fabiola Eloisa Setim Prioste ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sea Turtles ◽  
Chelonia Mydas ◽  
Score System ◽  
Green Sea Turtles

Nonlethal capture of green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) in fishing weirs as an opportunity for population studies and conservation

2021 ◽  
pp. 105437
Author(s):  
Eduardo H.S.M. Lima ◽  
Danielle Rodrigues Awabdi ◽  
Maria Thereza D. Melo ◽  
Bruno Giffoni ◽  
Leandro Bugoni
Keyword(s):  
Population Studies ◽  
Sea Turtles ◽  
Chelonia Mydas ◽  
Green Sea Turtles

Influence of exercise and fasting on blood parameters in juvenile green turtles (Chelonia mydas): implications for health assessments

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
D. March ◽  
E. Ariel ◽  
D. Blyde ◽  
L. Christidis ◽  
B.P. Kelaher
Keyword(s):  
Biochemical Parameters ◽  
Health Assessment ◽  
Chelonia Mydas ◽  
Blood Parameters ◽  
Fasting State ◽  
Intense Exercise ◽  
Post Exercise ◽  
Green Turtles ◽  
Health Assessments ◽  
Lactate Levels

This study investigated the influence of exercise and fasting state on haematologic and biochemical parameters in juvenile green turtles (Chelonia mydas). Animals were divided into two groups; one group was fasted for 72 h and one group was fed 1 h prior to exercise. Exercise was induced by repeated righting reflexes and blood values were measured prior to and post-exercise. Prior to exercise, fasted animals showed significantly decreased levels of urea, pH, PVCO2 and HCO3- and significant increases in Cl- and PVO2, compared to fed animals and fasted animals had significantly poorer exercise performance. Following exercise both fasted and fed animals had significant increases in Na+, K+, Cl-, PVCO2, PVO2, urea and lactate and significant decreases in pH and HCO3-. The magnitude of increase in lactate levels was significantly less in fasted animals. Prior to exercise, a significant correlation was calculated in fasted animals between pH and HCO3-. Following exercise, significant correlations were calculated in fed animals between pH and HCO3-, PVCO2 and lactate, and between pH and HCO3- in fasted animals. These results show that analytical method, fasting state and the physiologic changes induced during the intense exercise can affect haematologic and biochemical analytes and these factors should be considered when interpreting results from health assessment of wild animals.

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