Spirorchiidiosis (Digenea: Spirorchiidae) and lesions associated with parasites in Caribbean green turtles (Chelonia mydas)

Abstract

Forty-seven nesting green turtles (Chelonia mydas) were examined for parasitic pathogens. Four species of cardiovascular flukes (Digenea: Spirorchiidae), Learedius learedi, Hapalotrema postorchis, Monticellius indicum and Amphiorchis solus were collected from 39 of 40 of the turtles, and Neospirorchis species were identified in seven of the 47 by histological examination. The pathological changes associated with the spirorchiids and their eggs included aneurysms, arteritis of great vessels with dark nodular thickenings, endocarditis, haemorrhagic lesions, thrombi, vasculitis, and granulomatous reactions in all the turtles. Ozobranchus branchiatus (Hirudinea: Ozobranchidae) leeches were found on the skin of 27 of the 47 turtles and were associated with traumatic purulent and ulcerative dermatitis. Oesophagitis associated with Rameshwarotrema uterocrescens (Digenea: Pronocephalidae) was recorded in 11 of 43 of the turtles. Petechial haemorrhages and unspecific crater-like ulcerated lesions on the gastric mucosa associated with Charaxicephaloides species and Charaxicephalus robustus (Digenea: Pronocephalidae) were observed in four of 40 of the turtles. Cholycystitis and ectasia of mucosal glands associated with Rhytidodoides similis (Digenea: Rhytidodidae) were observed in one of the 47 turtles. Fibropapillomas were observed on the skin of one turtle and fibromas on the skin of two of them.

Se examinaron 47 tortugas verdes nidificantes (Chelonia mydas) en busca de patógenos parasitarios. Se recogieron cuatro especies de tremátodos cardiovasculares (Digenea: Spirorchiidae), Learedius learedi, Hapalotrema postorchis, Monticellius indicum y Amphiorchis solus, en 39 de las 40 tortugas, y se identificaron especies de Neospirorchis en siete de las 47 mediante examen histológico. Los cambios patológicos asociados a los espirráquidos y sus huevos incluían aneurismas, arteritis de grandes vasos con engrosamientos nodulares oscuros, endocarditis, lesiones hemorrágicas, trombos, vasculitis y reacciones granulomatosas en todas las tortugas. Se encontraron sanguijuelas Ozobranchus branchiatus (Hirudinea: Ozobranchidae) en la piel de 27 de las 47 tortugas y se asociaron a dermatitis traumática purulenta y ulcerosa. Se registró esofagitis asociada a Rameshwarotrema uterocrescens (Digenea: Pronocephalidae) en 11 de las 43 tortugas. Se observaron hemorragias petequiales y lesiones ulceradas inespecíficas en forma de cráter en la mucosa gástrica asociadas con especies de Charaxicephaloides y Charaxicephalus robustus (Digenea: Pronocephalidae) en cuatro de 40 de las tortugas. Se observó colicocistitis y ectasia de las glándulas mucosas asociadas a Rhytidodoides similis (Digenea: Rhytidodidae) en una de las 47 tortugas. Se observaron fibropapilomas en la piel de una tortuga y fibromas en la piel de dos de ellas.