Disseminated Candidiasis and Candidemia Caused by Candida palmioleophila in a Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas)

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 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.

Candida Manassasensis Infection in Mass Mortality Case of Siberian Sturgeon Acipenser Baerii Fingerlings in the Republic of Korea: A Case Report

“…Topological structure in which C. palmioleophila and C. manassasensis are separated from C. fluviatillis , C. glaebosa , C. pseudoglaebosa , and C. saitoana is similar to the maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree from Wang et al. (2021), which is based on combined sequences of ITS‐LSU‐TEF1a‐RPB1 .…”

“…As a result of total DNA extraction, polymerase chain reaction, sequencing, and a Basic Local and C. saitoana is similar to the maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree from Wang et al (2021), which is based on combined sequences of ITS-LSU-TEF1a-RPB1.…”

“…are ubiquitous yeast species that generally exist as individual cells and reproduce asexually (Schulze and Sonnenborn 2009). They are classified as opportunistic pathogens that can infect a wide range of hosts, from various terrestrial animals to aquatic life forms (Hernandez-Divers 2001;Pressler et al 2003;Simpson et al 2009;Papon et al 2013;Eid et al 2017;Roh and Kim 2017;Wang et al 2021). A previous study in the Republic of Korea reported specific clinical signs, such as distended coelom in sturgeon fingerlings, related to the presence of Candida spp.…”

“…2017; Roh and Kim 2017; Wang et al. 2021). A previous study in the Republic of Korea reported specific clinical signs, such as distended coelom in sturgeon fingerlings, related to the presence of Candida spp.…”

Retrospective Analysis of Blood Cultures and Their Association With Clinical Findings and Outcome in Green Sea Turtles (Chelonia Mydas) at a Florida Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Facility, 2017–2020

“…Disseminated candidiasis and candidemia has been reported with Candida palmioleophila in a green sea turtle. 54…”