Abstract

CONDE, Brirelys; ALVARADO, Mary Cruz; ESPINOZA-RODRIGUEZ, Nínive  and  BARRIOS-GARRIDO, Héctor. First report of coccidiosis in green turtles (Chelonia mydas) from the Gulf of Venezuela. Caldasia [online]. 2019, vol.41, n.2, pp.278-288. ISSN 0366-5232.  https://doi.org/10.15446/caldasia.v41n2.66421.

Coccidian parasites affect several reptilian species worldwide and they are responsible of the demise of hundreds of specimens either in the wilderness or in captivity among several localities throughout the world. Between 2011 and 2013, four out of 108 individuals (3.70 %), were rescued by the Grupo de Trabajo en Tortugas Marinas del Golfo de Venezuela (GTTM-GV) through its protocol 'Red de Aviso Oportuno' (RAO), shown symptoms and signs of a possible disease morphologically resembling to Caryospora sp. in intestines and other tissues. Physical, coprological and hematological examinations were carried out to juvenile specimens of Green Turtles captured by artisanal fishing gear. We found abundant oocysts with morphologies compatible with Caryospora cheloniae in three individuals (K002, K003, and SB001). One of the sampled individuals exhibited leukocytes containing structures similar to sporozoites of Caryospora sp., indicating a systemic coccidiosis. Two of the evaluated turtles (K003, SB001) were asymptomatic, and the other two (K001, K002) were clinically ill with neurological signs, such as involuntary movements of the head and flippers, muscle spasms, circular swimming movements and depression. Two of the turtles studied died, in both were found several parasitic stages of a coccidial structure in their intestines, and severe necrotic enteritis. This is the first report of coccidial disease in marine turtles in Venezuela and the southern Caribbean.

Keywords : Caribbean; coccidiosis; parasitic diseases; reptiles.

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