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Copyright of Archives of Veterinary Science is the property of Archives of Veterinary Science and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Reports of intussusception in sea turtles are generally linked to marine debris ingestion; therefore, only a few cases of the disease are associated with parasitic infestations. The objective of this study was to describe the necropsy findings of the first reported case of colocolic intussusception in a green sea turtle Chelonia mydas, associated with the helminth Octangium sp. A juvenile female green sea turtle, which was registered and rescued by the team from the Cetaceans Project of Costa Branca, State University of Rio Grande do Norte, was examined. The animal died 1 d after being treated and was immediately submitted for necropsy. Our findings indicated that parasitic infestation by Octangium sp. in the green sea turtle caused intussusception and consequently led to the animal's death. Early diagnosis and surgical correction are fundamental for a good prognosis and, consequently, for successful rehabilitation of marine species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Archives of Veterinary Science is the property of Archives of Veterinary Science and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Fibropapillomatosis is a threat to the survival of marine turtles, especially green turtles; therefore, studies on this neoplastic disease are considered a conservation priority. Our goal was to characterize the incidence and spatial–temporal distribution of fibropapillomatosis in the Potiguar Basin, Rio Grande do Norte and Ceará states, Brazil. This study was based on data obtained during daily observations by a beach monitoring program from 2012 to 2015. A total of 2688 marine turtles, comprising the 5 species that occur in the Brazilian coast, were observed; 604 of the 610 individuals that presented fibropapillomatosis tumors were green turtles (Chelonia mydas). During the study period, we identified an increase in relative fibropapillomatosis frequency from 13.16% (2012) to 35.29% (2015), with a yearly peak in strandings between October and December. Fibropapillomatosis tumors were classified according to anatomical distribution, size, and the Southwest Atlantic Fibropapillomatosis Score (e.g., mild, moderate, and severe). The total number of tumors varied from 1 to 67; most were classified as size B and mild and were located mainly on the forelimbs and neck (49.63 and 25.95%, respectively). Our study shows the need to implement mitigation measures to promote sea turtle conservation in the Potiguar Basin, an important area for marine turtles in Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We described aspects of spatial distribution, composition, and seasonality of sea turtle species stranded in the Rio Grande do Norte and Ceará States Basin ("Potiguar Basin"), northeastern Brazil, during a 7-yr period (between 2010 and 2016) and evaluated aspects related to anthropogenic impact. Our results revealed the occurrence of the 5 sea turtle species found in Brazil, and Chelonia mydas corresponded to the majority of the reported strandings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sea turtles are affected by pollutants worldwide, and the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been detected in different types of samples and at high levels in some cases. The present study brings concentrations of 37 PAHs in liver samples of 17 green turtles Chelonia mydas stranded in northeastern Brazil [four with cutaneous tumors of fibropapillomatosis (FP), being classified as FP+]. Six PAHs were detected in 100% of the liver samples, and all alkylated PAHs were frequently quantified. High levels of phenanthrene (771.20 and 794.43 ng g−1 d.w.) and fluorene (1882.36 ng g−1 d.w.) were found in three females FP- (without FP cutaneous tumors). On the other hand, one green turtle FP+ had the higher level of naphthalene (531.70 ng g−1 d.w.), compound detected in 82.35 % of the samples. Our study brings additional baseline of organic pollutants in green turtles, improving knowledge on bioaccumulation of these compounds in sea turtles. • Six PAHs were detected in 100 % of liver samples of 17 stranded green turtles. • Specimens analyzed including those with and without fibropapillomatosis (FP). • All monitored alkylated PAHs were frequently quantified. • High levels of phenanthrene and fluorene were found in three females without FP. • One green turtle with FP had the higher level of naphthalene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies on novel methodologies addressed to quantification of anthropogenic marine debris (AMD) types ingested by green turtles (Chelonia mydas) is not common in the scientific literature. To fill this gap, we used the alimentary index (IAi) to quantify and classify AMD ingested by green turtles stranded in the Potiguar Basin, northeastern Brazil. We classified 295 green turtles as juveniles (JUV-I (n = 190) and JUV-II (n = 58)) and adults (ADU (n = 47)). We collected gut contents during necropsy and analyzed them using the IAi. The IAi values were categorized as main (IAi ≥ 0.5), secondary (0.25 ≤ IAi < 0.5), and accessory (IAi < 0.25). The results revealed that transparent soft plastic was an accessory item for the three size groups and the second most frequent item (IAi = 0.23) for JUV-I. Our study brings insights into the application of the IAi to evaluate the amount and types of AMD ingested by green turtles. [Display omitted] • The alimentary index is an important diet analysis tool to assess the impact of anthropogenic marine debris on green turtles. • Despite the higher consumption of algae, the transparent soft plastic presence was relevant, especially among juveniles. • The IAi can also be used to study the impacts of anthropogenic debris on other threatened sea turtle species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sea turtles face several threats and pollution has become a major concern for their conservation worldwide. We analyzed samples of the liver, muscles, and kidneys of 38 Chelonia mydas stranded along the Potiguar Basin, northeastern Brazil, between 2015 and 2018 to determine the total Hg concentration (THg), as well as the concentrations of Cu, Cd, Ag, and Se. The relation between turtle size and element concentrations revealed a negative correlation for THg and Se (liver, muscles, and kidneys), Cu and Cd (liver and kidneys) and a positive correlation for Ag in the three organs analyzed. Concentrations of THg, Cu, Ag, and Se were high in the liver, highlighting the Cu concentration (median = 25.1150 μg g−1 w.w.), while the kidneys had the highest Cd levels (median = 12.2200 μg g−1 w.w.). There was significant difference between element concentrations and the three organs analyzed, except for Ag and Se concentrations in the muscle and kidney samples. Our study showed that green turtles found in Potiguar Basin, northeastern Brasil, have bioaccumulated inorganic elements which indicate the need of further investigations on the environmental quality of the region. [Display omitted] • Negative correlation between size and concentrations: THg and Se (liver/muscles/kidneys) and Cu and Cd (muscles/kidneys). • Ag concentrations in the liver, muscle, and kidney samples showed positive correlation with the curved carapace length. • Green turtles had high Cd levels in the kidneys and high THg, Cu, Ag, and Se levels in the liver. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we report the trauma suffered by a green turtle (Chelonia mydas), caused by a collision with a motorboat, and describe the case ante and post-mortem. An adult female green turtle was rescued alive on December 2, 2016 at Ponta Negra beach, municipality of Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. The rescued animal was sent to the Marine Fauna Rehabilitation Center (PCCB-UERN), municipality of Areia Branca (RN), in Brazil. Physical examination revealed an excellent body score, noisy breathing, moderate dehydration, absence of hind limb and cloacal reflexes when stimulated by pressure, and two traumatic injuries characteristic of a collision with a motorboat. After three days of supportive treatment, the animal died and was immediately sent for necropsy. The animal had a complete fracture of the vertebral bodies (dorsal elements D9 and D10) and spinal cord section. The entire gastrointestinal tract had food content, in addition to sharp injuries in the colon caused by the bone fragments of the fractured carapace. The lungs were congested, hemorrhagic with frothy and bloody secretion, and interstitial bronchiole fibrosis. There was also present some fibrin and a large number of leukocyte cells, consisting mainly of macrophages. The liver was enlarged, with rounded edges and thickening of the capsule, multifocal areas of hepatocellular necrosis, and dissociation of the hepatocyte cords. The collision resulted in the exposure of the coelomic cavity and spinal cord, causing the animal intense pain, paralysis of the hind limbs and cloaca, speticemia, and consequently, death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]