Neurological disease in wild loggerhead sea turtles Caretta caretta

Diseases of Aquatic Organisms

Manire Nancy S.¹  Stacy Ellis C.¹  Foley Jan H.¹  Mettee Andrew P.¹  Harman Charles A.¹  Bruce L.¹  Mizisin G.¹  Douglas R.¹  Szabo Cheryl L.¹  Homer Brian A.¹  Diane Shelton¹  Chrisman Francesco Origgi Sadie Coberley Allen M.¹  Mader Glenn R.¹  Greiner Nancy J.¹  Landsberg Leanne Flewelling Ruth Y. Ewing Richie Moretti Susan Schaf Corinne Rose¹  Elliott R. Jacobson¹ 

关键词: Spirorchiidiasis;    Brain;    Spinal cord;    Neuropathy;    Loggerhead sea turtle;    Caretta caretta;   

DOI  :  10.3354/dao070139

学科分类：生物科学（综合）

来源: Inter-Research

【 摘 要 】

ABSTRACT: Beginning in October 2000, subadult loggerhead sea turtles Caretta caretta showing clinical signs of a neurological disorder were found in waters off south Florida, USA. Histopathology indicated generalized and neurologic spirorchiidiasis. In loggerhead sea turtles (LST) with neurospirorchiidiasis, adult trematodes were found in the meninges of the brain and spinal cord of 7 and 3 affected turtles respectively, and multiple encephalic intravascular or perivascular eggs were associated with granulomatous or mixed leukocytic inflammation, vasculitis, edema, axonal degeneration and occasional necrosis. Adult spirorchiids were dissected from meningeal vessels of 2 of 11 LST brains and 1 of 10 spinal cords and were identified as Neospirorchis sp. Affected LST were evaluated for brevetoxins, ciguatoxins, saxitoxins, domoic acid and palytoxin. While tissues from 7 of 20 LST tested positive for brevetoxins, the levels were not considered to be in a range causing acute toxicosis. No known natural (algal blooms) or anthropogenic (pollutant spills) stressors co-occurred with the turtle mortality. While heavy metal toxicosis and organophosphate toxicosis were also investigated as possible causes, there was no evidence for their involvement. We speculate that the clinical signs and pathologic changes seen in the affected LST resulted from combined heavy spirorchiid parasitism and possible chronic exposure to a novel toxin present in the diet of LST.

【 授权许可】

Unknown