Mycobacteriosis in loggerhead sea turtle, Caretta caretta, stranded in Italy: a case report.

In May 2005, a loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) stranded along the Adriatic coast near Ancona (Italy) and was housed in the Sea Turtle Hospital of Parco Oltremare, Riccione (RN). The sea turtle showed signs of depression, anorexia, lethargy and tachypnea. After two days, the subject died and was submitted for postmortem, parasitological and bacteriological examination. Samples from internal organs were fixed in neutral buffered 10% formalin and subjected to histological exam. At postmortem examination, abundant ascitic fluid and pericardial effusion were observed. Multiple whitish nodules ranging from 1-2 mm to 7 cm were scattered in lungs; pleural effusion was also detected. Several yellowish miliary nodules were evident in the liver showing normal dimensions and regular edges. A low number of miliary nodules were also observed in the stomach and gut wall. Parasitological exam of the gut revealed the nematode Sulcascaris sulcata and the digenean Pachypsolus irroratus, while the other organs tested negative. At the microscopic exam, smears from liver and lungs stained with Ziehl-Neelsen (Z-N) tested positive for acid-fast rods. The cultural exam from lungs, liver and kidney using Löwenstein-Jensen and Middlebrook 7H10 isolated whitish colonies after 5 days at 30°C. These colonies were positive to Z-N stain and were consistent with Mycobacterium sp. The histological sections stained with H&E and Z-N showed granulomas at different developmental stages containing acid-fast bacteria. Phenotypical characterization and PCR-RFLP of the hsp65 Gene are in progress to identify the Mycobacterium sp. This report contributes to the knowledge of sea turtle mycobacteriosis.