The impact of a range of different threats has resulted in the listing of six out of seven sea turtle species on the IUCN Red List of endangered species. Disease risk analysis (DRA) tools are designed to provide objective, repeatable and documented assessment of the disease risks for a population and measures to reduce these risks through management options. To the best of our knowledge, DRAs have not previously been published for sea turtles, although disease is reported to contribute to sea turtle population decline. Here, a comprehensive list of health hazards is provided for all seven species of sea turtles. The possible risk these hazards pose to the health of sea turtles were assessed and “One Health” aspects of interacting with sea turtles were also investigated. The risk assessment was undertaken in collaboration with more than 30 experts in the field including veterinarians, microbiologists, social scientists, epidemiologists and stakeholders, in the form of two international workshops and one local workshop. The general finding of the DRA was the distinct lack of knowledge regarding a link between the presence of pathogens and diseases manifestation in sea turtles. A higher rate of disease in immunocompromised individuals was repeatedly reported and a possible link between immunosuppression and environmental contaminants as a result of anthropogenic influences was suggested. Society based conservation initiatives and as a result the cultural and social aspect of interacting with sea turtles appeared to need more attention and research. A risk management workshop was carried out to acquire the insights of local policy makers about management options for the risks relevant to Queensland and the options were evaluated considering their feasibility and effectiveness. The sea turtle DRA presented here, is a structured guide for future risk assessments to be used in specific scenarios such as translocation and head-starting programs.

The Australian fur seal (Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus) has experienced a slower than expected population recovery since the end of the commercial sealing era, with a high third trimester abortion rate. There is currently no known proximate cause. Coxiella burnetii (Cb) is a well-known cause of abortion in domestic and wildlife species and an important zoonotic pathogen. It has been recorded from a small number of northern hemisphere marine mammals and may be a potential contributory factor to decreasing populations of northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus) and Steller sealions (Eumetopias jubatus). It has not been recorded from marine mammals in the southern hemisphere but is well documented in ruminants and wildlife in Australia as a cause of reproductive failure. Third trimester aborted fetuses (n = 46) and full-term placentas (n = 66) from Australian fur seals, were collected on Kanowna Island and Seal Rocks in Bass Strait, south-eastern Australia. Utilizing routine hematoxylin and eosin histopathology, Cb immunohistochemistry and two different qPCR targets–htpAB and com1, Cb was identified. Routine histopathology and immunohistochemistry were insensitive for the detection of Cb. The detected Cb prevalence ranged from 10.6% for com1 up to 40.9% with htpAB. Coxiella burnetti was readily detected in full-term placentas but in aborted fetal material only in a single placenta associated with a still birth. The exact significance is currently unclear, but this highlights that Cb is present in Australian fur seals, breeding in Bass Strait. Bass Strait is in one of the world’s fastest warming oceanic regions and marine mammals breeding in the area are likely to be key indicators of marine ecosystem stressors. This first description of Cb in a marine mammal from the southern hemisphere, highlights the need to further investigate the potential risks this pathogen poses to Australian fur seals and sympatric marine mammals. Additionally, it is important to determine the zoonotic risk of this pathogen to persons working with, and in proximity of, Australian fur seal breeding colonies.

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Coxiella burnetii is suspected as a novel pathogen contributing to decreased pup production in Australian fur seals (Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus). It has recently been described from a single breeding colony in Bass Strait, has previously been associated with two decreasing populations of northern hemisphere pinnipeds and is a known reproductive pathogen. Data around its disease ecology in marine mammals are sparse. Aims. To determine whether environmental DNA (eDNA) can be used to survey for C. burnetii in Australian fur seal breeding colonies. To determine whether C. burnetii in Australian fur seals is the same genotype as terrestrial Australian C. burnetii. Methods. Soil samples were collected from Kanowna Island and Seal Rocks. Placental samples were collected from Kanowna Island. Soil was evaluated for eDNA using a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) for com1 gene. Placental samples were evaluated with com1, htpAB and IS1111 markers. Multiple-locus variable number of tandem repeats analysis for three microsatellite loci (ms-24, ms-28 and ms-33) was used to determine relatedness to Australian C. burnetii genotypes. Key results. eDNA results varied between preand post-pupping at Seal Rocks. When targeting the com1 gene, the post-pupping prevalence at Kanowna Island and Seal Rocks was 59.6% and 90%, respectively. eDNA PCR inhibition of samples was low at 1.9%. There was very poor, sporadic to absent IS1111 amplification in placental samples. The com1 and htpAB qPCRs had an overall prevalence across placental samples of 39.2% and 56.7% respectively. In 90.1% of placental samples (n = 11), the ms-28 locus amplified. Neither ms-24 nor ms-33 amplified. Conclusions. eDNA is an effective tool to survey Australian fur seal breeding colonies in the post-pupping period for C. burnetii. The prevalence appears to be much higher in the Seal Rocks colony than in the Kanowna Island colony. It appears that this is not a terrestrial Australian genotype but rather closely related to genotypes detected in marine mammals in the northern hemisphere. Implications. This research significantly expands our ability to survey for C. burnetii in Australian fur seals and other marine mammals. It highlights knowledge gaps in our understanding of the disease ecology and phylogeny of C. burnetii in marine mammals.

A great white pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus) was referred for assessment of a subacute-onset, nonpainful swelling located in the pectoral region. Physical examination revealed a firm, round, well-circumscribed subcutaneous mass approximately 10 cm in diameter. Cytological evaluation of a fine needle aspirate of the mass was consistent with a mesenchymal tumor. The mass was excised, and a diagnosis of xanthomatosis was made based on histopathologic results. Avian xanthomatosis is a nonneoplastic condition of unknown etiology. Possible causes of this condition include trauma, metabolic or nutritional disorders. Similar lesions were not observed in the nine conspecifics that were fed the same diet and housed in the same enclosure. To our knowledge, this is the first report of xanthomatosis in the family Pelecanidae.