Ocular spirorchiidiosis in sea turtles from Brazil.

The causes of the beaching and death of sea turtles have not been fully clarified and continue to be studied. Mild, moderate and severe lesions caused by spirorchiidiosis have been seen for decades in different organs and were recently defined as the cause of death of a loggerhead turtle. In the present study, eyes and optic nerves were analysed in green sea turtles with spirorchiidiosis and no other debilitating factors. Injuries to the optic nerve and choroid layer were described in 235 animals (90%) infected with spirorchiids. Turtles with ocular spirorchiidiosis are approximately three times more likely to be cachectic than turtles with spirorchiidiosis without ocular involvement.

[1]  M. Santoro,et al.  Pathology and molecular analysis of Hapalotrema mistroides (Digenea: Spirorchiidae) infecting a Mediterranean loggerhead turtle Caretta caretta. , 2017, Diseases of aquatic organisms.

[2]  M. Werneck,et al.  Spirorchiid Infection in Olive Ridley Turtle, Lepidochelys olivacea (Eschscholtz, 1829) (Testudines: Cheloniidae), from Brazil , 2016, Journal of Parasitology.

[3]  M. Werneck,et al.  Pathological changes by Hapalotrema postorchis Rao 1976 (Digenea: Spirorchiidae) in a green turtle Chelonia mydas Linnaeus 1758 (Testudines, Cheloniidae) from Brazil , 2015 .

[4]  G. Lopez,et al.  Nesting Ecology and Conservation of the Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil , 2012 .

[5]  I. Cheng,et al.  Fluke (Spirorchiidae) Infections in Sea Turtles Stranded on Taiwan: Prevalence and Pathology , 2012, The Journal of parasitology.

[6]  C. Bellini,et al.  Body Mass and the Energy Budget of Gravid Hawksbill Turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) during the Nesting Season , 2010 .

[7]  P. Klein,et al.  Spirorchiidiasis in stranded loggerhead Caretta caretta and green turtles Chelonia mydas in Florida (USA): host pathology and significance. , 2010, Diseases of aquatic organisms.

[8]  C. Limpus,et al.  Health Surveillance of Stranded Green Turtles in Southern Queensland, Australia (2006–2009): An Epidemiological Analysis of Causes of Disease and Mortality , 2010, EcoHealth.

[9]  Paulo C. R. Barata,et al.  Incidental catch of sea turtles by the Brazilian pelagic longline fishery , 2008, Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom.

[10]  M. Santoro,et al.  Spirorchiidiosis (Digenea: Spirorchiidae) and lesions associated with parasites in Caribbean green turtles (Chelonia mydas) , 2007, Veterinary Record.

[11]  Paulo C. R. Barata,et al.  Nesting biology and conservation of the olive ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) in Brazil, 1991/1992 to 2002/2003 , 2007, Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom.

[12]  Milani Chaloupka,et al.  Conservation status of the loggerhead sea turtle in Brazil: an encouraging outlook , 2007 .

[13]  Paulo C. R. Barata,et al.  Nesting Biology and Conservation of the Leatherback Sea Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) in the State of Espírito Santo, Brazil, 1988–1989 to 2003–2004 , 2007 .

[14]  T. Cribb,et al.  Lesions Caused by Cardiovascular Flukes (Digenea: Spirorchidae) in Stranded Green Turtles (Chelonia mydas) , 1998, Veterinary pathology.

[15]  D. Blair,et al.  Studies on cardiovascular fluke (Digenea: Spirorchiidae) infections in sea turtles from the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia. , 1989, Journal of comparative pathology.

[16]  D. Brooks,et al.  SPIRORCHIDIASIS IN LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLES (CARETTA CARETTA): PATHOLOGY 1 , 1982, Journal of wildlife diseases.

[17]  D. Blair,et al.  Pathological changes associated with cardiovascular trematodes (Digenea: Spirorchidae) in a green sea turtle Chelonia mydas (L). , 1981, Journal of comparative pathology.

[18]  J. E. Kotas,et al.  Incidental capture of loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) sea turtles by the pelagic longline fishery off southern Brazil , 2004 .