Lesions Observed Post Mortem in Post-hatchling Loggerhead Sea Turtles (Caretta caretta) from a Head Start Programme

Pathology of Hatchling Hawksbill Sea Turtle (Eretmochelys Imbricata) Mortalities Occurring While Under Rehabilitative Care, 2015–21

“…The most prevalent lesion that we found was dermatitis (34%), similar to head-started loggerheads (41%, Orós et al 2020), and a common lesion among captive reptiles (Palmeiro and Roberts 2013). Dermatitis affected all age groups, suggesting that skin infections are potentially acquired both from the nesting environment and during rehabilitative care.…”

“…Along with the establishment of protective legislation, nest protection strategies, and monitoring programs, other conservation strategies undertaken with the intent to aid in population recovery include hatcheries, head starting, and rehabilitation of debilitated hatchlings until they are fit for release (Pritchard 1980; Mortimer 1999). Head starting is the controversial captive rearing of wild-caught hatchlings to avoid the high mortality of early life stages to increase their chances of survival (Heppell et al 1996; Burke, 2015; Bennet et al 2017; Brei et al 2019); it has been used for many species of sea turtles (Bell et al 2005; Shaver and Rubio 2008; Okuyama et al 2010; Abalo-Morla et al 2018; Orós et al 2020). In contrast, hatchling rehabilitation is the temporary provision of supportive veterinary care to hatchlings that fail to emerge from a nest or do not make it to the sea, for example, because of disorientation.…”

“…The usefulness of rehabilitation varies by individual; for example, turtles affected with disorientation are better candidates for release than those presenting with disease. Disease can reduce survival of hatchlings (Abalo-Morla et al 2018; Orós et al 2020), and must be characterized to comprehensively understand threats to hatchlings and to provide proper medical support while under human care.…”

“…Miller et al (2009) documented the presence of muscle degeneration, renal tubular degeneration, pneumonia, and pulmonary edema in captive leatherback hatchlings in Florida. Various types of dermatitis, purulent or fibrinonecrotizing rhinitis, acute interstitial pneumonia, and fibrinonecrotizing stomatitis have been documented in head-started loggerhead sea turtle ( Caretta caretta ) hatchlings (Orós et al 2020). There is comparably a paucity of information regarding diseases of hawksbill hatchlings.…”

Dolphins and sea turtles may host zoonotic parasites and pathogenic bacteria as indicators of anthropic pressure in the Gulf of Taranto (Northern Ionian Sea, Central-Eastern Mediterranean Sea)

“…Very recently S. typhimurium ( Salmonella 1,4, [5],12:i was found in three stranded striped dolphins suggesting a potential pathogenic role in this species (Grattarola et al 2019 ). Despite turtles being reported as a possible reservoir of Salmonella, the route of transmission of this pathogenic species and the pathogenicity for turtles are still not clear (Orós et al 2020 ). In a recent survey that took into consideration turtles, eggs, nest sand and marine water (Alduina et al 2020 ) no Salmonella spp.…”