Sea turtles depend on ambient temperature to carry out their main activities, so changes in water temperature can affect the function of their immune system and represent different threats. To assess ...vital signs in black sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) in the Ojo de Liebre lagoon complex, Mexico, 600 turtles were examined. Carapace, plastron, and left inguinal area temperatures were measured with a digital infrared thermometer gun. Cloacal temperature was measured with an electronic thermometer. Heart rate was recorded using a stethoscope. Statistical analyses found no significant variation between inguinal area and cloacal temperatures. Vital sign measurements were compared with previous reports in the region, and there were differences in body temperatures, which were attributed to the characteristics of the water masses inhabited by the turtles. There was no significant difference between heart rate data for black sea turtles in this study and previously reported data for healthy sea turtles in the region, indicating that these data are likely an accurate representation for the species. All values fell within the reference intervals for healthy sea turtles. This minimally invasive diagnostic approach using vital signs allowed us to evaluate and infer core organ functions and to rule out health threats such as cold-stunning, resulting in a useful preliminary systemic assessment of free-ranging sea turtles.
The olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) is the most abundant of all seven sea turtles, found across the tropical regions of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans in over 80 different countries ...all around the globe. Despite being the most common and widely distributed sea turtle, olive ridley populations have been declining substantially for decades. Worldwide, olive ridleys have experienced a 30–50% decline, putting their populations at risk and being considered an Endangered Species by the IUCN. Natural habitat degradation, pollution, bycatch, climate change, predation by humans and animals, infectious diseases and illegal trade are the most notorious threats to explain olive ridley populations rapidly decline. The present review assesses the numerous dangers that the olive ridley turtle has historically faced and currently faces. To preserve olive ridleys, stronger conservation initiatives and strategies must continue to be undertaken. Policies and law enforcement for the protection of natural environments and reduction in the effects of climate change should be implemented worldwide to protect this turtle species.
Abstract Fibropapillomatosis (FP) - tumour-associated chelonid alphaherpesvirus 5 (ChHV5; Scutavirus chelonidalpha5) - is a disease that affect marine turtles around the world, and characterized by ...the formation of cutaneous tumours that can appear anywhere on the body. We carried out a thorough literature search (from 1990 to 2024) in the feeding sites of North-western Mexico, a region that hosts important habitats for feeding, development, and reproduction for five of the seven existing sea turtle species. We found 18 reports recording a total of 32 cases of FP and/or ChHV5/Scutavirus chelonidalpha5 in coastal and insular areas of North-western Mexico. Baja California Sur resulted with the highest number of cases (75%). While the first case of ChHV5/Scutavirus chelonidalpha5 infection was reported in 2004, the presence of FP tumours was reported in 2014 and became more frequent between 2019 and 2024. The affected species were black, Chelonia mydas (50%), olive ridley, Lepidochelys olivacea (46.8%) and loggerhead turtles, Caretta caretta (3.2%). Tumours occurred mainly in anterior flippers (46.1%) and neck (22.5%), and most had a nodular and verrucous appearance with a rough surface. In the study region, there is a potential sign of the emergence of the ChHV5/Scutavirus chelonidalpha5 infections and FP disease during the last 20 years, with a rapid increase during the last 10 years. As long as infections by ChHV5/Scutavirus chelonidalpha5 and the prevalence of the FP disease may be potentially influenced by anthropogenic activities, a One Health approach is needed to understand and improve sea turtles’ health.
During routine monitoring in Ojo de Liebre Lagoon, Mexico, a juvenile black turtle (
) was captured, physically examined, measured, weighed, sampled, and tagged. The turtle showed no clinical signs ...suggestive of disease. Eleven months later, this turtle was recaptured in the same area, during which one lesion suggestive of fibropapilloma on the neck was identified and sampled for histopathology and molecular analysis. Histopathology revealed hyperkeratosis, epidermal hyperplasia, acanthosis, papillary differentiation and ballooning degeneration of epidermal cells, increased fibroblasts in the dermis, and angiogenesis, among other things. Hematological values were similar to those reported for clinically healthy black turtles and did not show notable changes between the first capture and the recapture; likewise, clinicopathological evaluation did not show structural or functional damage in the turtle's systems. The chelonid alphaherpesvirus 5 (ChHV5) UL30 gene was amplified and sequenced for phylogeny; Bayesian reconstruction showed a high alignment with the genus
of the Eastern Pacific group. This is one of the first reports of ChHV5 in a cutaneous fibropapilloma of a black turtle in the Baja California peninsula.
The loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) is an endangered species which distributes around the west coast of the Baja California Peninsula. In Baja California Sur, the conservation efforts for ...this species were focused in the Gulf of Ulloa; however, within the Pacific coast of the Baja California Peninsula, Sebastián Vizcaíno Bay (SVB) biological active center suit the optimal conditions for the presence of loggerheads. This study aimed to investigate SVB as a potential foraging area for loggerheads. Between July and August 2018, three prospective surveys were conducted, in search of marine turtles in SVB. A total of three loggerhead turtles and one eastern Pacific green turtle (Chelonia mydas) were captured; biometric data were recorded, and organisms were classified as juveniles. This is the first report of the loggerhead sea turtles in the SVB and given the oceanographic characteristics of the bay, it is a potential foraging and development area for the species.
Sea turtles can bioaccumulate high concentrations of potentially toxic contaminants. To better understand trace element effects on sea turtles' health, we established reference intervals for ...hematological and plasma biochemical analytes in 40 in-water, foraging immature and adult Eastern Pacific green turtles (Chelonia mydas) from two coastal lagoons in Baja California Sur, quantified whole blood concentrations of eight trace elements, and assessed their correlations. Rank-order trace element concentrations in both immature and adult turtles was zinc > selenium > nickel > arsenic > copper > cadmium > lead > manganese. Immature turtles had significantly higher copper and lower nickel and zinc concentrations. Additionally, a number of relationships between trace elements and blood analytes were identified. These data provide baseline information useful for future investigations into this population, or in other geographic regions and various life-stage classes.
•Blood analytes and trace elements were quantified in Eastern Pacific green turtles.•Reference intervals for blood analytes were established for each life-stage class.•Life-stage classes analyte differences were attributed to diet and somatic growth.•Immature turtles presented higher copper and lower nickel and zinc concentrations.•A number of relationships between trace elements and blood analytes were identified.
RESUMEN: Las tortugas marinas poseen naturalmente microbiota gastrointestinal, sin embargo, también se ha reportado el comportamiento oportunista y patogenicidad de algunas bacterias en estas ...especies. Por lo tanto, es importante generar información sobre los posibles riesgos para las tortugas y la salud humana. Se realizaron cinco monitoreos mensuales con capturas de Chelonia mydas en el complejo lagunar Ojo de Liebre. Se les practicaron exámenes físicos y se registraron sus morfometrías y se calculó su índice de condición corporal; se realizaron hisopados orales y cloacales que se sembraron en medios McConkey y TCBS. Los agentes bacterianos se aislaron e identificaron mediante el sistema API®20E. Se calcularon los porcentajes de abundancia y prevalencia de cada microorganismo. Finalmente, se determinó la relación entre la talla de las tortugas y la presencia de los microorganismos. Se capturaron 178 Chelonia mydas, se obtuvieron 523 aislamientos de enterobacterias gramnegativas de siete especies diferentes; la presencia de proteobacterias en Chelonia mydas no se relacionó con su clase de edad. Dentro de los microorganismos encontrados, Vibrio fluvialis y Burkholderia cepacia son zoonóticos. Estos estudios permiten comprender el papel de los microorganismos en las enfermedades de las poblaciones silvestres y los riesgos para la salud pública asociados a su consumo ilegal.
La distribución y patrones de actividad de las tortugas marinas en áreas de alimentación son fundamentales para su conservación y manejo. Estos análisis pueden revelar datos importantes sobre sus ...historias de vida, además de explicar su frecuencia de presentación en estos sitios, identificando hábitats críticos. En este estudio se identificaron los patronesde distribución temporal de 2 juveniles de tortuga negra para definir las áreas de mayor uso y patrones de movimiento en un área de alimentación dentro del complejo lagunar Ojo de Liebre, México, uno de los principales sitios de alimentación y desarrollo de tortugas negras en la costa del Pacífico. Para ello, se instalaron 2 radiotransmisores de muy alta frecuencia en 2 tortugas negras juveniles que fueron monitoreadas continuamente con intervalos semanales de agosto 2018 a diciembre 2019. Los datos obtenidos permitieron identificar las zonas de mayor uso y la superficie mensual ocupada por tortuga y por temporada. La presencia y distribución temporal de ambas tortugas indicó que el área brinda las condiciones adecuadas para que ellas usen la zona como sitio de alimentación, desarrollo y/o descanso por periodos prolongados, confirmando que las tortugas muestran alta fidelidad a las zonas de alimentación de la península de Baja California.
Anthropogenic impact and environmental threats can cause diseases to marine turtles and in severe cases death, contributing to population decline worldwide. The Gulf of Ulloa (GU) represents an ...important foraging habitat for loggerhead sea turtles and olive ridley turtles; it is also considered a highly productive area for fisheries and is known for the mortality of marine turtles, which has been associated to bycatch. However, there is little information in the area regarding the health status of marine turtles; thus, the aims of this study were to (1) assess the health of marine turtles via physical examination, (2) generate their vital signs, (3) determine their hematological values, and (4) describe blood cell characteristics and its relationship with functional damage which can affect the organism’s systems. Clinical examinations were performed; complete blood count, clinical biochemistry, and clinicopathological evaluations were made, and their relationships with the functioning of the organism’s systems were described. With the sequential integration of medical and clinicopathological analysis, 56 loggerhead sea turtles and 16 olive ridley turtles from the GU were diagnosed as healthy. These pathological analyses are essential to evaluate marine turtles’ health, as well as to evaluate the health status of free-ranging populations, and have important applications for treatment and rehabilitation of sick and injured marine turtles. The baseline generated in this research provides information that can be taken as a reference for future research and used to generate management plans and conservation strategies for the organisms and for the ecosystem, together with the authorities.
Sea turtle health is an important component of conservation since these taxa is susceptible to infectious diseases that can cause illness leading to mortality. Threats to the health, survival, and ...reproduction of sea turtles are increasingly documented; however, prevention and control has not yet been successfully achieved. Thus, information about health indicators of sea turtles is a useful tool in order to achieve the best possible conservation measures. The objective of this study was to establish a baseline of health indicators of free-ranging Eastern Pacific green turtles (
Chelonia mydas
) from neritic foraging and juvenile developmental habitats in Baja California Sur. Here, we contribute baseline and reference interval values of vital signs, complete blood count, and plasma blood chemistry for live specimens from coastal lagoons: Ojo de liebre and San Ignacio in Baja California Sur, Mexico. With the integration of these indicators, 79 turtles were diagnosed as “healthy.” Development of site-specific baseline of health indicators for free-ranging sea turtle populations allows to infer that the habitat provides adequate conditions for these species to carry out the activities corresponding to their stage of development and helps to create the management plans and pertinent conservation strategies as well as for the organisms in the area.
PDF
