Relationship Between Barnacle Epibiotic Load and Hematologic Parameters in Loggerhead Sea Turtles (Caretta Caretta), a Comparison Between Migratory and Residential Animals in Pamlico Sound, North Carolina

Stamper, M. Andrew; Harms, Craig A.; Epperly, Sheryan P.; Braun-McNeill, Joanne; Avens, Larisa; Stoskopf, Michael K.

doi:10.1638/04-074.1

Cited by 70 publications

(61 citation statements)

References 11 publications

(8 reference statements)

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“…This finding differs from a study by Stamper et al (2005) in which no correlation was noted between epibiont load and any blood parameters evaluated in loggerhead turtles. However, the turtles in that study were all captured free-ranging in water and thus not debilitated and live-stranded as were turtles in the stranded behavior in the present study.…”

Section: Deem Et Al-blood Values In Loggerhead Turtlescontrasting

confidence: 99%

Comparison of Blood Values in Foraging, Nesting, and Stranded Loggerhead Turtles (Caretta Caretta) Along the Coast of Georgia, Usa

Deem

Norton

Mitchell

et al. 2009

Journal of Wildlife Diseases

152

119

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ABSTRACT:The health status of 83 loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta; 39 foraging, 31 nesting, and 13 stranded turtles) was analyzed using physical examinations, hematology, plasma biochemistry, plasma protein electrophoresis, and toxicologic parameters. Significant differences were noted in a number of health parameters between turtles exhibiting each of these behaviors. On physical examinations, stranded turtles had the highest prevalence of heavy carapace epibiont loads, miscellaneous abnormalities, emaciation, and weakness. Differences in hematologic values included a lower packed cell volume, higher number of lymphocytes, and lower number of monocytes in stranded turtles; lower white blood cell counts in foraging turtles; and significant differences in total solid values among turtles exhibiting all behaviors with the lowest values in stranded turtles and the highest values in nesting turtles. Differences in plasma biochemistry values included the highest uric acid, creatine kinase, and CO 2 values in stranded turtles; the highest glucose and potassium values in foraging turtles; and the highest cholesterol and triglyceride values, and lowest alanine aminotransferase, in nesting turtles. Differences in total protein, albumin, and globulin were found using plasma biochemistry values, with lowest values in stranded turtles and highest values in nesting females, whereas differences in blood urea nitrogen between turtles included the lowest values in nesting turtles and the highest in foraging turtles. Plasma organochlorine and polychlorinated biphenyl levels were below their limits of quantification in the 39 foraging, 11 nesting, and three stranded turtles tested. A statistically significant difference was noted in the level of whole blood mercury between the 23 foraging and 12 nesting turtles tested. There was no difference in arsenic or lead levels between turtles exhibiting any of the three behaviors. Although a few limitations exist with the present study and include unknown ambient temperatures, turtle handling times that varied from 15 min to 53 min per turtle, and the use of a different laboratory for processing complete blood counts and plasma biochemistries in stranded versus foraging and nesting turtles, we provide baseline blood values for two cohorts (foraging and nesting) of loggerhead sea turtles on the coast of Georgia. Additionally, we demonstrate significant differences in clinical findings and blood parameters between foraging, nesting, and stranded loggerhead turtles in the region.

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Section: Deem Et Al-blood Values In Loggerhead Turtlescontrasting

confidence: 99%

Comparison of Blood Values in Foraging, Nesting, and Stranded Loggerhead Turtles (Caretta Caretta) Along the Coast of Georgia, Usa

Deem

Norton

Mitchell

et al. 2009

Journal of Wildlife Diseases

152

119

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Despite these differences, hematologic reference intervals estimated for loggerheads in this study, with few exceptions, are in accordance with those documented for other free-ranging loggerhead sea turtle populations [8,20,29]. The lower limit for packed cell volume in the reference interval estimated for loggerheads in this study is lower compared to the limits reported previously for apparently healthy juvenile loggerheads sampled in Core and Pamlico Sounds, North Carolina (lower limit for comparison = 10th percentile) [20] and along the coast of Georgia (lower limit for comparison = mean—2 standard deviations) [29]. However, the lower limit for packed cell volume is similar to that reported for free-ranging clinically healthy large immature and mature loggerhead sea turtles sampled off the coast of Australia [8].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

“…Because seasonal variation in clinical pathology parameters has been previously identified in inshore juvenile loggerhead sea turtles in North Carolina [20], the hematological and biochemical data were assessed for utility of partitioning the reference intervals into subclasses based on season [19]. In addition, some analytes, such as uric acid and cholesterol, vary by sex in marine turtles [21], so analyte data were also assessed for partitioning into subclasses based on sex.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Clinical Pathology Reference Intervals for an In-Water Population of Juvenile Loggerhead Sea Turtles (Caretta caretta) in Core Sound, North Carolina, USA

et al. 2015

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The loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) is found throughout the waters of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. It is a protected species throughout much of its range due to threats such as habitat loss, fisheries interactions, hatchling predation, and marine debris. Loggerheads that occur in the southeastern U.S. are listed as “threatened” on the U.S. Endangered Species List, and receive state and federal protection. As part of an on-going population assessment conducted by the National Marine Fisheries Service, samples were collected from juvenile loggerhead sea turtles in Core Sound, North Carolina, between 2004 and 2007 to gain insight on the baseline health of the threatened Northwest Atlantic Ocean population. The aims of the current study were to establish hematologic and biochemical reference intervals for this population, and to assess variation of the hematologic and plasma biochemical analytes by season, water temperature, and sex and size of the turtles. Reference intervals for the clinical pathology parameters were estimated following Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. Season, water temperature, sex, and size of the turtles were found to be significant factors of variation for parameter values. Seasonal variation could be attributed to physiological effects of decreasing photoperiod, cooler water temperature, and migration during the fall months. Packed cell volume, total protein, and albumin increased with increasing size of the turtles. The size-related differences in analytes documented in the present study are consistent with other reports of variation in clinical pathology parameters by size and age in sea turtles. As a component of a health assessment of juvenile loggerhead sea turtles in North Carolina, this study will serve as a baseline aiding in evaluation of trends for this population and as a diagnostic tool for assessing the health and prognosis for loggerhead sea turtles undergoing rehabilitation.

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“…During the migration, turtles will undergo physiological stress such as changes in temperature, currents, light, salinity and can also interact with other biota that acts as epibiont such as barnacles. Epibionts is an organism that attaches to the body of other organisms and can be used as one of indicator of the turtle health [6]. …”

Section: Icbs Conferencementioning

confidence: 99%

Geometry Morphometry and Health Status of Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata Linnaeus, 1766) in Maratua Island, East Kalimantan-Indonesia

Maulida¹,

hadia²,

Imron³

et al. 2017

KLS

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Research on hawksbill turtles in the Maratua Island is still very few. Meanwhile, population of hawksbills was believed to decline due to human exploitation. The aim of this research was to study the morphology of hawksbill through geometric morphometric approach and health status which includes the existence of epibionts, mechanical damages and Body Condition Index. The survey was conducted from 5 to 18 September 2014. The method used was the hand-catching by snorkeling and diving for catching turtles, morphometric measurements and documentation of the turtle body parts using the camera. Morphological aspects were analyzed with linear regression and geometry approach with Microsoft Excel and ImageJ software. Health status was analyzed with observation of epibionts and mechanical damages through photos and calculation of Body Condition Index. There were 11 turtles that have been caught. The results indicated the growth of straight carapace length notch to tip affect the growth of the other body parts of hawksbill turtle and based approach to geometry, shape growth of hawksbill turtles that are found in Maratua not changed but only have added size. Based on the health status through observation epibionts, mechanical damages and analysis of Body Condition Index, hawksbill in Maratua still relatively healthy compared with studies elsewhere.

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Relationship Between Barnacle Epibiotic Load and Hematologic Parameters in Loggerhead Sea Turtles (Caretta Caretta), a Comparison Between Migratory and Residential Animals in Pamlico Sound, North Carolina

Cited by 70 publications

References 11 publications

Comparison of Blood Values in Foraging, Nesting, and Stranded Loggerhead Turtles (Caretta Caretta) Along the Coast of Georgia, Usa

Comparison of Blood Values in Foraging, Nesting, and Stranded Loggerhead Turtles (Caretta Caretta) Along the Coast of Georgia, Usa

Clinical Pathology Reference Intervals for an In-Water Population of Juvenile Loggerhead Sea Turtles (Caretta caretta) in Core Sound, North Carolina, USA

Geometry Morphometry and Health Status of Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata Linnaeus, 1766) in Maratua Island, East Kalimantan-Indonesia

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