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Veterinary Sciences and Sea Turtles
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Veterinary Sciences and Sea Turtles

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Herpetology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2022) | Viewed by 60419

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Jorge Orós

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Departamento de Morfología, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Trasmontaña, Arucas, 35416 Las Palmas, Spain
Interests: sea turtles; reptile; pathology; immunohistochemistry; wildlife

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) emphasizes the importance of the investigation of sea turtles. In recent years, increased efforts from veterinary researchers have been devoted to the conservation of sea turtles, sometimes from a multidisciplinary approach, contributing to significant advances in their medical management. In addition, many veterinary surgeons are currently involved in sea turtle conservation in wildlife rehabilitation hospitals around the world.

In this Special Issue of Animals (a Q1 Veterinary Sciences journal, 2019 Impact Factor 2.323), we aim to gather high-quality papers addressing different areas within veterinary sciences that contribute to the conservation of sea turtles. Researchers working in anatomy, physiology, surgery, internal medicine, clinical pathology, pathology, parasitology, microbiology and infectious diseases, pharmacology, and toxicology (exclusively research on the effects of environmental pollutants on sea turtles) are welcome to contribute in-depth reviews, original full articles, and unique case reports.

Dr. Jorge Orós
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Sea turtles
  • pathology
  • anatomy
  • parasitology
  • physiology
  • surgery
  • clinical pathology
  • internal medicine
  • infectious diseases
  • toxicology

Published Papers (15 papers)

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Research

Jump to: Review, Other

18 pages, 1398 KiB  
Article
Influence of Sunlight on Vitamin D and Health Status in Green (Chelonia mydas) Sea Turtles with Fibropapillomatosis
by Victoria E. Garefino and Sarah L. Milton
Animals 2022, 12(4), 488; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ani12040488 - 16 Feb 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 4601
Abstract
Green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) are an endangered species, which as juveniles are prone to the debilitating disease green turtle fibropapillomatosis (FP). Previous work has shown an association between reduced immune function and FP. As vitamin D has been linked to [...] Read more.
Green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) are an endangered species, which as juveniles are prone to the debilitating disease green turtle fibropapillomatosis (FP). Previous work has shown an association between reduced immune function and FP. As vitamin D has been linked to immune function in numerous animals, the aim of this study was to compare vitamin D levels in green sea turtles with and without evident FP and determine if exposure to sunlight would influence vitamin D levels and other health parameters. Various health markers, including vitamin D, in turtles with and without evident tumors being treated at a rehabilitation facility in southeast Florida were compared to apparently healthy wild-caught juvenile green turtles. Turtles receiving treatment were housed in tanks exposed to higher or lower levels of sunlight for up to 6 months. Upon intake, tumored individuals had lower plasma vitamin D and ionized calcium levels and higher parathyroid hormone levels when compared to both wild-caught and rehabilitation turtles without evident tumors. Individuals exposed to greater sunlight showed greater increases in plasma vitamin D and a more successful recovery. The results suggest that increasing sun exposure in rehabilitation facilities may enhance health and recovery in green turtles with FP. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Veterinary Sciences and Sea Turtles)
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9 pages, 544 KiB  
Article
Multi-Injection Pharmacokinetics of Meloxicam in Kemp’s Ridley (Lepidochelys kempii) and Green (Chelonia mydas) Sea Turtles after Subcutaneous Administration
by Terry M. Norton, Tonya Clauss, Rachel Overmeyer, Stephanie Stowell, Michelle Kaylor and Sherry Cox
Animals 2021, 11(12), 3522; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ani11123522 - 10 Dec 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2243
Abstract
The objective of this study was to determine the pharmacokinetics and safety of multiple injections of meloxicam (MLX) administered subcutaneously (SQ) in Kemp’s ridley (Lepidochelys kempii) and green (Chelonia mydas) sea turtles. Based on results from a previously published [...] Read more.
The objective of this study was to determine the pharmacokinetics and safety of multiple injections of meloxicam (MLX) administered subcutaneously (SQ) in Kemp’s ridley (Lepidochelys kempii) and green (Chelonia mydas) sea turtles. Based on results from a previously published single-injection study, a multiple-injection regimen was derived for the Kemp’s ridleys, which consisted of administering MLX at a dose of 1 mg/kg SQ every 12 h for 5 days, and for green turtles at a dose of 1 mg/kg SQ every 48 h for three treatments. Six turtles of each species were used for the study, and blood samples were taken at multiple time intervals. The terminal half-life after the last dose for the Kemp’s ridley sea turtles was calculated at 7.18 h, and for the green sea turtles at 23.71 h. Throughout the multiple injections, MLX concentrations remained above 0.57 µg/mL, a concentration targeted in humans for the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. No negative side effects or changes to blood parameters evaluated were observed during the study in either species. The results of this study suggest MLX should be administered SQ to Kemp’s ridley sea turtles at a dosage of 1 mg/kg every 12 h and in green sea turtles at a dose of 1 mg/kg every 48 h. The novelty of this work is that it is a multiple-injection study. Multiple injections were administered and produced concentrations that were considered therapeutic in humans, and the turtles did not have any adverse side effects. Furthermore, there were large differences in the pharmacokinetic values between green and Kemp’s ridley sea turtles. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Veterinary Sciences and Sea Turtles)
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13 pages, 2785 KiB  
Article
Disseminated Candidiasis and Candidemia Caused by Candida palmioleophila in a Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas)
by Wen-Lin Wang, Pei-Lun Sun, Chi-Fei Kao, Wen-Ta Li, I-Jiunn Cheng and Pin-Huan Yu
Animals 2021, 11(12), 3480; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ani11123480 - 07 Dec 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3631
Abstract
A sub-adult green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) was rescued and treated for carapace and plastron shell fractures. The turtle was kept dry-docked for the first 2 months with a placement of a long-term jugular central venous catheter (CVC). Pain management, aggressive [...] Read more.
A sub-adult green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) was rescued and treated for carapace and plastron shell fractures. The turtle was kept dry-docked for the first 2 months with a placement of a long-term jugular central venous catheter (CVC). Pain management, aggressive antibiotic and anthelmintic therapy, fluid therapy, force feeding, and wound debridement were provided to manage the shell fractures and control bacteremia. Human albumin was administered to treat severe hypoalbuminemia. On day 59, small budding yeasts were noted on the blood smears. Candidemia was confirmed by blood culture, as the yeasts were identified as Candida palmioleophila by the molecular multi-locus identification method. The CVC was removed, and the patient was treated with itraconazole. Although the carapace and plastron wounds had epithelized by 5.5 months after the rescue, the turtle died unexpectedly by 7.5 months. The postmortem examination revealed numerous necrogranulomas with intralesional yeasts, morphologically compatible with Candida spp., in joints, bones, brain, and lungs, suggestive of disseminated candidiasis. We describe a rare case of candidemia in the veterinary field. To our knowledge, this is the first report of candidiasis caused by C. palmioleophila in a reptile. The present results should improve veterinary medical care and, therefore, enhance the conservation of endangered sea turtle species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Veterinary Sciences and Sea Turtles)
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21 pages, 2652 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of the Respiratory Microbiome and the Use of Tracheal Lavage as a Diagnostic Tool in Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtles (Lepidochelys kempii)
by Kerry L. McNally, Jennifer L. Bowen, Jennifer O. Brisson, Adam Kennedy and Charles J. Innis
Animals 2021, 11(10), 2927; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ani11102927 - 10 Oct 2021
Viewed by 2260
Abstract
Respiratory disease is a common cause of morbidity and mortality in sea turtles, including the Kemp’s ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys kempii). Although culture-dependent methods are typically used to characterize microbes associated with pneumonia and to determine treatment, culture-independent methods can provide [...] Read more.
Respiratory disease is a common cause of morbidity and mortality in sea turtles, including the Kemp’s ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys kempii). Although culture-dependent methods are typically used to characterize microbes associated with pneumonia and to determine treatment, culture-independent methods can provide a deeper understanding of the respiratory microbial communities and lead to a more accurate diagnosis. In this study, we characterized the tracheal lavage microbiome from cold-stunned Kemp’s ridley sea turtles at three time points during rehabilitation (intake, rehabilitation, and convalescence) by analyzing the 16S rRNA gene collected from tracheal lavage samples. We retrospectively developed a radiographic scoring system to grade the severity of lung abnormalities in these turtles and found no differences in diversity or composition of microbial communities based on radiographic score. We also found that the culture isolates from tracheal lavage samples, as well as other previously reported sea turtle pathogens, were present in variable abundance across sequenced samples. In addition to the tracheal microbial community of live turtles, we characterized microbial communities from other segments of the respiratory tract (glottis, trachea, anterior lung, posterior lung) from deceased turtles. We found a high degree of variability within turtles and a high degree of dissimilarity between different segments of the respiratory tract and the tracheal lavage collected from the same turtle. In summary, we found that the pulmonary microbial community associated with pneumonia in sea turtles is complex and does not correlate well with the microbial community as identified by tracheal lavage. These results underscore the limitations of using tracheal lavage for identification of the causative agents of pneumonia in sea turtles. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Veterinary Sciences and Sea Turtles)
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15 pages, 1842 KiB  
Article
Antimicrobial Resistance in Loggerhead Sea Turtles (Caretta caretta): A Comparison between Clinical and Commensal Bacterial Isolates
by Adriana Trotta, Mariarosaria Marinaro, Alessio Sposato, Michela Galgano, Stefano Ciccarelli, Serena Paci and Marialaura Corrente
Animals 2021, 11(8), 2435; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ani11082435 - 18 Aug 2021
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3301
Abstract
Gram negative organisms are frequently isolated from Caretta caretta turtles, which can act as reservoir species for resistant microorganisms in the aquatic environment. C. caretta, which have no history of treatment with antimicrobials, are useful sentinel species for resistant microbes. In this culture-based [...] Read more.
Gram negative organisms are frequently isolated from Caretta caretta turtles, which can act as reservoir species for resistant microorganisms in the aquatic environment. C. caretta, which have no history of treatment with antimicrobials, are useful sentinel species for resistant microbes. In this culture-based study, commensal bacteria isolated from oral and cloacal samples of 98 healthy C. caretta were compared to clinical isolates from the wounds of 102 injured animals, in order to investigate the presence of AMR bacteria in free-living loggerheads from the Adriatic Sea. A total of 410 isolates were cultured. Escherichia coli and genera such as Serratia, Moraxella, Kluyvera, Salmonella were isolated only in healthy animals, while Acinetobacter, Enterobacter, Klebsiella and Morganella were isolated only from the wounds of the injured animals. When tested for susceptibility to ampicillin, amoxicillin + clavulanic acid, ceftazidime, cefuroxime, gentamicin, doxycycline, ciprofloxacin and enrofloxacin, the clinical isolates showed highly significant differences in AMR rates vs. commensal isolates for all the drugs tested, except for doxycycline. The detection of high AMR rates in loggerheads is of clinical and microbiological significance since it impacts both the choice of a proper antibiotic therapy and the implementation of conservation programs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Veterinary Sciences and Sea Turtles)
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11 pages, 999 KiB  
Article
Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria in Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) Rearing Seawater
by Thanaporn Chuen-Im, Korapan Sawetsuwannakun, Pimmnapar Neesanant and Nakarin Kitkumthorn
Animals 2021, 11(6), 1841; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ani11061841 - 21 Jun 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2401
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance of microorganisms is a serious health problem for both humans and animals. Infection of these bacteria may result in therapy failure, leading to high mortality rates. During an early intervention program process, the Sea Turtle Conservation Center of Thailand (STCCT) has [...] Read more.
Antibiotic resistance of microorganisms is a serious health problem for both humans and animals. Infection of these bacteria may result in therapy failure, leading to high mortality rates. During an early intervention program process, the Sea Turtle Conservation Center of Thailand (STCCT) has faced high mortality rates due to bacterial infection. Previously, investigation of juvenile turtle carcasses found etiological agents in tissue lesions. Further determination of sea water in the turtle holding tanks revealed a prevalence of these causative agents in water samples, implying association of bacterial isolates in rearing water and infection in captive turtles. In this study, we examined the antibiotic resistance of bacteria in seawater from the turtle holding tank for a management plan of juvenile turtles with bacterial infection. The examination was carried out in three periods: 2015 to 2016, 2018, and 2019. The highest isolate numbers were resistant to beta-lactam, whilst low aminoglycoside resistance rates were observed. No gentamicin-resistant isolate was detected. Seventy-nine isolates (71.17%) were resistant to at least one antibiotic. Consideration of resistant bacterial and antibiotic numbers over three sampling periods indicated increased risk of antibiotic-resistant bacteria to sea turtle health. Essentially, this study emphasizes the importance of antibiotic-resistant bacterial assessment in rearing seawater for sea turtle husbandry. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Veterinary Sciences and Sea Turtles)
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8 pages, 1855 KiB  
Article
Helminth Infection of the Loggerhead Sea Turtle Caretta caretta along the Coasts of Sicily and the North West Adriatic Sea
by Antonino Gentile, Tullia Amato, Andrea Gustinelli, Maria Letizia Fioravanti, Delia Gambino, Vincenzo Randazzo, Giulia Caracappa, Domenico Vicari and Marco Arculeo
Animals 2021, 11(5), 1408; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ani11051408 - 14 May 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1892
Abstract
We provide new data on the presence of helminth parasites in 64 individual loggerhead sea turtles Caretta caretta stranded along the coasts of Sicily and the northwest Adriatic Sea between June 2014 and August 2016. The necropsy examination revealed 31 individuals (48.4%) positive [...] Read more.
We provide new data on the presence of helminth parasites in 64 individual loggerhead sea turtles Caretta caretta stranded along the coasts of Sicily and the northwest Adriatic Sea between June 2014 and August 2016. The necropsy examination revealed 31 individuals (48.4%) positive for endoparasites, showing a greater prevalence of trematodes than nematodes. In particular, seven species and a single genus of Trematoda (Hapalotrema) and a single species and genus of Nematoda (Kathlania) were identified. Among the Digenea flukes the species with the highest prevalence of infection were Rhytidodes gelatinosus (34.6%) and Hapalotrema sp. (33.3%), while among the Nematoda they were Kathlania sp. (33.3%) and Sulcascaris sulcata (33.3%). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was applied among the recovery sites of the stranded loggerhead sea turtles and prevalence of endoparasites was used to highlight any relationship between the parasites and the origin of the hosts. ANOVA showed significant differences (p < 0.001) among the data used. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Veterinary Sciences and Sea Turtles)
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15 pages, 1568 KiB  
Article
Steatitis in Cold-Stunned Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtles (Lepidochelys kempii)
by Rachel C. Turner, Charles J. Innis, Brian A. Stacy, Jorge A. Hernandez, Richard C. Hill, Karen C. Scott, Salvatore Frasca, Jr., Michael M. Garner, Rachel E. Burns, Michael D. Arendt, Jennifer Brisson, Terry M. Norton, Sea Rogers Williams, Adam Kennedy, Amy B. Alexander and Nicole I. Stacy
Animals 2021, 11(3), 898; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ani11030898 - 21 Mar 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2956 | Correction
Abstract
The pathogenesis of steatitis that infrequently occurs in cold-stunned Kemp’s ridley sea turtles (KRT; Lepidochelys kempii) has been undetermined. The objectives of this study were to investigate the clinical (n = 23) and histologic findings (n = 11) in cold-stunned [...] Read more.
The pathogenesis of steatitis that infrequently occurs in cold-stunned Kemp’s ridley sea turtles (KRT; Lepidochelys kempii) has been undetermined. The objectives of this study were to investigate the clinical (n = 23) and histologic findings (n = 11) in cold-stunned KRT, and to compare plasma concentrations of α-tocopherol (vitamin E), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and the TBARS to vitamin E (T/E) ratio (an assessment of oxidative stress) between cold-stunned KRT with clinically and/or histologically confirmed steatitis (n = 10) and free-ranging KRT (n = 9). None of the cold-stunned turtles had clinically detectable steatitis at admission, and the median number of days to diagnosis of steatitis was 71 (range 33–469). Histologic findings of affected adipose tissue included heterophilic (n = 9) and/or histiocytic (n = 5) steatitis, fat necrosis (n = 7), myonecrosis (n = 2), and intralesional bacteria (n = 6). Cold-stunned KRT had significantly lower plasma vitamin E concentrations (median = 3.5 nmol/g), lower plasma TBARS concentrations (median = 1.6 nmol/g), and higher T/E ratios (median = 0.50), than controls (62.3 nmol/g; 2.1 nmol/g; 0.03, respectively). These results suggest a multifactorial etiology for the development of steatitis in KRT during rehabilitation, including tissue injury, septicemia, and various factors resulting in imbalances of anti-/oxidative status. By highlighting the need to provide more effective vitamin E supplementation, and the need to re-assess specific components of the diet, this study may lead to reduced incidence and improved medical management of steatitis in cold-stunned sea turtles. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Veterinary Sciences and Sea Turtles)
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13 pages, 8643 KiB  
Article
Anatomic Interactive Atlas of the Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta) Head
by Alberto Arencibia, Aday Melián and Jorge Orós
Animals 2021, 11(1), 198; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ani11010198 - 15 Jan 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3465
Abstract
The head of the sea turtle is susceptible to congenital, developmental, traumatic, and infectious disorders. An accurate interpretation and thorough understanding of the anatomy of this region could be useful for veterinary practice on sea turtles. The purpose of this study was to [...] Read more.
The head of the sea turtle is susceptible to congenital, developmental, traumatic, and infectious disorders. An accurate interpretation and thorough understanding of the anatomy of this region could be useful for veterinary practice on sea turtles. The purpose of this study was to develop an interactive two-dimensional (2D) atlas viewing software of the head of the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) using images obtained via osteology, gross dissections, and computed tomography (CT). The atlas is composed of 10 osteology, 13 gross dissection, 10 sagittal multiplanar reconstructed CT (bone and soft tissue kernels), and 22 transverse CT (bone and soft tissue windows) images. All images were segmented and colored using ITK-SNAP software. The visualization and image assessment were performed using the Unity 3D platform to facilitate the development of interactive content in 2D. This atlas can be useful as an interactive anatomic resource for assessment of the head of loggerhead sea turtles. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Veterinary Sciences and Sea Turtles)
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Review

Jump to: Research, Other

28 pages, 2358 KiB  
Review
Immunity in Sea Turtles: Review of a Host-Pathogen Arms Race Millions of Years in the Running
by Alana Nash and Elizabeth J. Ryan
Animals 2023, 13(4), 556; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ani13040556 - 05 Feb 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 4715
Abstract
The immune system of sea turtles is not completely understood. Sea turtles (as reptiles) bridge a unique evolutionary gap, being ectothermic vertebrates like fish and amphibians and amniotes like birds and mammals. Turtles are ectotherms; thus, their immune system is influenced by environmental [...] Read more.
The immune system of sea turtles is not completely understood. Sea turtles (as reptiles) bridge a unique evolutionary gap, being ectothermic vertebrates like fish and amphibians and amniotes like birds and mammals. Turtles are ectotherms; thus, their immune system is influenced by environmental conditions like temperature and season. We aim to review the turtle immune system and note what studies have investigated sea turtles and the effect of the environment on the immune response. Turtles rely heavily on the nonspecific innate response rather than the specific adaptive response. Turtles’ innate immune effectors include antimicrobial peptides, complement, and nonspecific leukocytes. The antiviral defense is understudied in terms of the diversity of pathogen receptors and interferon function. Turtles also mount adaptive responses to pathogens. Lymphoid structures responsible for lymphocyte activation and maturation are either missing in reptiles or function is affected by season. Turtles are a marker of health for their marine environment, and their immune system is commonly dysregulated because of disease or contaminants. Fibropapillomatosis (FP) is a tumorous disease that afflicts sea turtles and is thought to be caused by a virus and an environmental factor. We aim, by exploring the current understanding of the immune system in turtles, to aid the investigation of environmental factors that contribute to the pathogenesis of this disease and provide options for immunotherapy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Veterinary Sciences and Sea Turtles)
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22 pages, 7025 KiB  
Review
Threats and Vulnerabilities for the Globally Distributed Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) Sea Turtle: A Historical and Current Status Evaluation
by Lenin Cáceres-Farias, Eduardo Reséndiz, Joelly Espinoza, Helena Fernández-Sanz and Alonzo Alfaro-Núñez
Animals 2022, 12(14), 1837; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ani12141837 - 19 Jul 2022
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 6230
Abstract
The olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) is the most abundant of all seven sea turtles, found across the tropical regions of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans in over 80 different countries all around the globe. Despite being the most common and [...] Read more.
The olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) is the most abundant of all seven sea turtles, found across the tropical regions of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans in over 80 different countries all around the globe. Despite being the most common and widely distributed sea turtle, olive ridley populations have been declining substantially for decades. Worldwide, olive ridleys have experienced a 30–50% decline, putting their populations at risk and being considered an Endangered Species by the IUCN. Natural habitat degradation, pollution, bycatch, climate change, predation by humans and animals, infectious diseases and illegal trade are the most notorious threats to explain olive ridley populations rapidly decline. The present review assesses the numerous dangers that the olive ridley turtle has historically faced and currently faces. To preserve olive ridleys, stronger conservation initiatives and strategies must continue to be undertaken. Policies and law enforcement for the protection of natural environments and reduction in the effects of climate change should be implemented worldwide to protect this turtle species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Veterinary Sciences and Sea Turtles)
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18 pages, 330 KiB  
Review
Pain and Pain Management in Sea Turtle and Herpetological Medicine: State of the Art
by Ilenia Serinelli, Simona Soloperto and Olimpia R. Lai
Animals 2022, 12(6), 697; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ani12060697 - 10 Mar 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2693
Abstract
In sea turtle rescue and rehabilitative medicine, many of the casualties suffer from occurrences that would be considered painful in other species; therefore, the use of analgesic drugs should be ethically mandatory to manage the pain and avoid its deleterious systemic effects to [...] Read more.
In sea turtle rescue and rehabilitative medicine, many of the casualties suffer from occurrences that would be considered painful in other species; therefore, the use of analgesic drugs should be ethically mandatory to manage the pain and avoid its deleterious systemic effects to guarantee a rapid recovery and release. Nonetheless, pain assessment and management are particularly challenging in reptilians and chelonians. The available scientific literature demonstrates that, anatomically, biochemically, and physiologically, the central nervous system of reptiles and chelonians is to be considered functionally comparable to that of mammals albeit less sophisticated; therefore, reptiles can experience not only nociception but also “pain” in its definition of an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience. Hence, despite the necessity of appropriate pain management plans, the available literature on pain assessment and clinical efficacy of analgesic drugs currently in use (prevalently opioids and NSAIDs) is fragmented and suffers from some basic gaps or methodological bias that prevent a correct interpretation of the results. At present, the general understanding of the physiology of reptiles’ pain and the possibility of its reasonable treatment is still in its infancy, considering the enormous amount of information still needed, and the use of analgesic drugs is still anecdotal or dangerously inferred from other species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Veterinary Sciences and Sea Turtles)
19 pages, 1332 KiB  
Review
Rehabilitation of Marine Turtles and Welfare Improvement by Application of Environmental Enrichment Strategies
by Cesar Marcial Escobedo-Bonilla, Noelia Maria Quiros-Rojas and Esteban Rudín-Salazar
Animals 2022, 12(3), 282; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ani12030282 - 24 Jan 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 7888
Abstract
Sea turtles perform various ecological services in several marine environments and are considered architects of the marine landscape. At present, they are endangered species due to anthropogenic threats, pollution and degradation of marine habitats. These impacts make it urgent to increase protection and [...] Read more.
Sea turtles perform various ecological services in several marine environments and are considered architects of the marine landscape. At present, they are endangered species due to anthropogenic threats, pollution and degradation of marine habitats. These impacts make it urgent to increase protection and conservation efforts. Protective actions include the rescue and rehabilitation of injured individuals as a result of their interactions with humans and other threats. Environmental enrichment (EE) is a series of techniques and methods aimed to improve the welfare of animals in captivity and/or under rehabilitation. It uses external stimuli to enhance their psychological and physiological wellbeing to promote natural abilities and behaviors. These may increase the survival chances of rehabilitated animals upon release in the wild. This review presents data of studies where EE has been applied during the rehabilitation processes of different species of sea turtles, and its effect on welfare improvement during captivity/rehabilitation and on survival after release into nature. Technologies such as satellite tags are an important means to determine rehabilitation success and survival of injured individuals from endangered species after release into the wild, as they allow tracking and monitoring of such individuals, and determine their location in areas used by their natural populations for feeding or breeding. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Veterinary Sciences and Sea Turtles)
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21 pages, 4133 KiB  
Review
Congenital Malformations in Sea Turtles: Puzzling Interplay between Genes and Environment
by Rodolfo Martín-del-Campo, María Fernanda Calderón-Campuzano, Isaías Rojas-Lleonart, Raquel Briseño-Dueñas and Alejandra García-Gasca
Animals 2021, 11(2), 444; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ani11020444 - 08 Feb 2021
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 7016
Abstract
The completion of embryonic development depends, in part, on the interplay between genetic factors and environmental conditions, and any alteration during development may affect embryonic genetic and epigenetic regulatory pathways leading to congenital malformations, which are mostly incompatible with life. Oviparous reptiles, such [...] Read more.
The completion of embryonic development depends, in part, on the interplay between genetic factors and environmental conditions, and any alteration during development may affect embryonic genetic and epigenetic regulatory pathways leading to congenital malformations, which are mostly incompatible with life. Oviparous reptiles, such as sea turtles, that produce numerous eggs in a clutch that is buried on the beach provide an opportunity to study embryonic mortality associated with malformations that occur at different times during development, or that prevent the hatchling from emerging from the nest. In sea turtles, the presence of congenital malformations frequently leads to mortality. A few years ago, a detailed study was performed on external congenital malformations in three species of sea turtles from the Mexican Pacific and Caribbean coasts, the hawksbill turtle, Eretmochelys imbricata (n = 23,559 eggs), the green turtle, Chelonia mydas (n = 17,690 eggs), and the olive ridley, Lepidochelys olivacea (n = 20,257 eggs), finding 63 types of congenital malformations, of which 38 were new reports. Of the three species, the olive ridley showed a higher incidence of severe anomalies in the craniofacial region (49%), indicating alterations of early developmental pathways; however, several malformations were also observed in the body, including defects in the carapace (45%) and limbs (33%), as well as pigmentation disorders (20%), indicating that deviations occurred during the middle and later stages of development. Although intrinsic factors (i.e., genetic mutations or epigenetic modifications) are difficult to monitor in the field, some environmental factors (such as the incubation temperature, humidity, and probably the status of feeding areas) are, to some extent, less difficult to monitor and/or control. In this review, we describe the aetiology of different malformations observed in sea turtle embryos, and provide some actions that can reduce embryonic mortality. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Veterinary Sciences and Sea Turtles)
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6 pages, 792 KiB  
Case Report
Fatal Bronchopneumonia and Tracheitis in a Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) Caused by Serratia proteamaculans
by Jane Hall, Hannah Bender, Natalie Miller and Paul Thompson
Animals 2022, 12(15), 1891; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ani12151891 - 25 Jul 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2386
Abstract
A free-ranging subadult, male green turtle (Chelonia mydas) presented with radiographic evidence of pneumonia and died acutely. On necropsy, the trachea and bronchi were plugged by diphtheritic membranes, comprised of fibrin, necrotic debris, and colonies of bacilli, identified as Serratia proteamaculans [...] Read more.
A free-ranging subadult, male green turtle (Chelonia mydas) presented with radiographic evidence of pneumonia and died acutely. On necropsy, the trachea and bronchi were plugged by diphtheritic membranes, comprised of fibrin, necrotic debris, and colonies of bacilli, identified as Serratia proteamaculans. S. proteamaculans, typically considered an opportunistic plant pathogen, has rarely been described as causing disease in animals. This is the first report of S. proteamaculans causing severe necrotizing tracheitis and bronchopneumonia in a reptile. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Veterinary Sciences and Sea Turtles)
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