Spirorchidiasis is considered the most important parasitic cause of stranding and mortality of sea turtles. In February 2018, an adult male of loggerhead (Caretta caretta) accidentally caught was hospitalized at Center Recovery treatment and rehabilitation Marine turtle (CRTM) “L. Cagnolaro”. The turtle showed lethargy, neurological compromising and penile prolapse. Twenty-four hours later, the turtle died and it was necropsied at the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale of Abruzzo and Molise “G. Caporale” (IZSAM). Histological and parasitological examinations were carried out. Spirorchiid elements were identified by morphology and by a PCR targeting the 28S gene and ITS2 spacer of rDNA, molecular analyses were carried out on the host (mitochondrial D-loop). The turtle was thin with shells shrunken and the coelomic organs were pale. A bilateral abnormal conformation of epididymis and vas deferens was observed. Type 1 and Type 3 eggs of spirorchiids were identified by stereomicroscope and light microscope in various organs. Histological examination showed disseminated eggs in pancreas, spleen, kidney, lung, brain, intestine, adrenal gland, heart, thymus, vas deferens and epididymis associated to severe and diffuse multifocal granulomatous reactions. The eggs of type 1 and 3 were molecularly identified as Hapalotrema mistroides and Neospirorchis Neogen 11 respectively, confirming a co-infestation. This is the first case of severe spirorchiidiasis described in the Adriatic Sea in free-ranging loggerhead turtles. The turtle belongs to the haplotype CC-A2.1., the most frequent in the Mediterranean and also shared with the Atlantic. Much is still left to know on the epidemiology of this parasitic disease in the Mediterranean basin, identification of intermediate hosts and risk factors. Impairment of circulatory system due to disseminated granulomatous lesions could have been contributory to the capture and to the death of this animal.

Co-infestation with by Hapalotrema mistroides ((Monticelli, 1896) and Neospirorchis spp (Neogen 11,) as responsible of a severe case of spirorchidiasis in a loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) from Adriatic Sea.

Marchiori E.;Tessarin C.;Marcer F.;
2018

Abstract

Spirorchidiasis is considered the most important parasitic cause of stranding and mortality of sea turtles. In February 2018, an adult male of loggerhead (Caretta caretta) accidentally caught was hospitalized at Center Recovery treatment and rehabilitation Marine turtle (CRTM) “L. Cagnolaro”. The turtle showed lethargy, neurological compromising and penile prolapse. Twenty-four hours later, the turtle died and it was necropsied at the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale of Abruzzo and Molise “G. Caporale” (IZSAM). Histological and parasitological examinations were carried out. Spirorchiid elements were identified by morphology and by a PCR targeting the 28S gene and ITS2 spacer of rDNA, molecular analyses were carried out on the host (mitochondrial D-loop). The turtle was thin with shells shrunken and the coelomic organs were pale. A bilateral abnormal conformation of epididymis and vas deferens was observed. Type 1 and Type 3 eggs of spirorchiids were identified by stereomicroscope and light microscope in various organs. Histological examination showed disseminated eggs in pancreas, spleen, kidney, lung, brain, intestine, adrenal gland, heart, thymus, vas deferens and epididymis associated to severe and diffuse multifocal granulomatous reactions. The eggs of type 1 and 3 were molecularly identified as Hapalotrema mistroides and Neospirorchis Neogen 11 respectively, confirming a co-infestation. This is the first case of severe spirorchiidiasis described in the Adriatic Sea in free-ranging loggerhead turtles. The turtle belongs to the haplotype CC-A2.1., the most frequent in the Mediterranean and also shared with the Atlantic. Much is still left to know on the epidemiology of this parasitic disease in the Mediterranean basin, identification of intermediate hosts and risk factors. Impairment of circulatory system due to disseminated granulomatous lesions could have been contributory to the capture and to the death of this animal.
2018
6th Mediterranean conference on marine turtles 2018 - Book of Abstracts
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11577/3315720
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