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Morick D, Bachmann VM, Shemesh E, Botero-Anug AM, Zemach-Shamir Z, Aizenberg Z, Davidovich N, Goldberg DW, Kan G, Ofri R, Tchernov D, Levy Y. Case report: Blindness associated with Learedius learedi trematode infection in a green sea turtle, Chelonia mydas, of the northern Red Sea. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1258522. [PMID: 37841474 PMCID: PMC10570618 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1258522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Spirorchiid blood flukes are widespread in sea turtles, causing disease and mortality in their populations, with high prevalence in several ocean basins. Besides being leading parasitic causes of sea turtle strandings in several parts of the world, these infectious agents can cause endocarditis, vasculitis, thrombosis, miliary egg granulomas, and aneurysms, which ultimately may compromise the survival of green sea turtles. More severe cases may also result in multifocal granulomatous meningitis or pneumonia, both of which can be fatal. Herein, we report the first case of severe trematode infection, Caused by Learedius learedi, in a green sea turtle in the northern Red Sea; this infection is associated with bilateral blindness. Necropsy revealed multiple granulomas with intralesional trematode eggs in the optic nerve, eyes, spleen, heart, and lungs. The parasite was identified as Learedius learedi through specific primers of the ribosomal genome and COI sequences obtained from GenBank. Altogether, these findings emphasize the importance of recognizing the systemic nature of this particular fluke infection to ultimately protect the lives of these marine animals and ensure the sustainability of these species in the wild.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danny Morick
- Morris Kahn Marine Research Station, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
- Hong Kong Branch of Southern Marine Science and Engineering, Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, China
| | - Vanessa M. Bachmann
- Morris Kahn Marine Research Station, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Eli Shemesh
- Morris Kahn Marine Research Station, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | | | - Ziv Zemach-Shamir
- Morris Kahn Marine Research Station, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Zahi Aizenberg
- Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Nadav Davidovich
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
- Israeli Veterinary Services, Bet Dagan, Israel
| | | | - Gaston Kan
- Israeli National Nature and Parks Authority-Israel Sea Turtle Rescue Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Ron Ofri
- Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Dan Tchernov
- Morris Kahn Marine Research Station, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
- Hong Kong Branch of Southern Marine Science and Engineering, Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, China
| | - Yaniv Levy
- Morris Kahn Marine Research Station, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
- Israeli National Nature and Parks Authority-Israel Sea Turtle Rescue Center, Jerusalem, Israel
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Jerdy H, Barreto B, Werneck M, Hauser-Davis RA, Baldassin P, Gabriel P, de Moraes Souza AL, Aparecida da Silva M, Felix A, Rodrigues RR, Bianchi M, Barbosa C, Vieira GG, Ribeiro L, Petronetto B, Souza A, Silveira RL, Carvalho E. Serious lesions in Green turtles ( Chelonia mydas) afflicted by fatal Spirorchiidiasis found stranded in south and southeastern Brazil. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2023; 20:73-78. [PMID: 36691453 PMCID: PMC9860056 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2023.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Several diseases have been reported as affecting endangered wild sea turtle population worldwide, including spirorchiidiasis. This parasitic infection results in serious circulatory disorders in sea turtles, as well as tissue damage due to the presence of spirorchiids eggs. However, few reports of organs severely affected by tissue replacement caused by granulomatous inflammatory processes due to spirorchiidiasis in sea turtles are available. In this regard, this study describes massive lesions in 16 juvenile green turtles from southeastern Brazil presenting no other detectable diseases or injuries, associated to parasitic compression of air spaces, parasitic thyroid atrophy, parasitic encephalic compression and parasitic splenic lymphoid depletion. These rare injuries were categorized as extremely severe, affecting most spirorchiidiasis-infected organs. Spirorchiidiasis was, thus, noted herein as capable of causing a variety of lethal injuries to vital or extremely important organs in sea turtles. Spirorchiidiasis should, therefore, also be considered a potential cause of death in stranded green sea turtle monitoring efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hassan Jerdy
- Laboratório de Microscopia, Universidade Federal do Sul e Sudeste do Pará, Rua Alberto Santos Dumont, Xinguara, PA, Brazil
| | - Bruna Barreto
- Laboratório de Morfologia e Patologia Animal (LMPA), Setor de Patologia Animal (SPA), Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Av. Alberto Lamego, 2000 – Parque Califórnia, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Max Werneck
- BW Institute, Professora Sueli Brasi Flores Street, Number 88 Praia Seca, Araruama, RJ Zip Code (CEP), 28970-000, Brazil
| | - Rachel Ann Hauser-Davis
- Laboratório de Avaliação e Promoção da Saúde Ambiental, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), 21040-360, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Paula Baldassin
- BW Institute, Professora Sueli Brasi Flores Street, Number 88 Praia Seca, Araruama, RJ Zip Code (CEP), 28970-000, Brazil
| | - Patrick Gabriel
- Laboratório de Morfologia e Patologia Animal (LMPA), Setor de Patologia Animal (SPA), Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Av. Alberto Lamego, 2000 – Parque Califórnia, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Aline Luize de Moraes Souza
- Laboratório de Morfologia e Patologia Animal (LMPA), Setor de Patologia Animal (SPA), Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Av. Alberto Lamego, 2000 – Parque Califórnia, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Maria Aparecida da Silva
- Departamento de Biologia, Centro de Ciências Exatas, Naturais e da Saúde (CCENS), Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo (UFES), Alegre, ES, Brazil
| | - Aline Felix
- Laboratório de Morfologia e Patologia Animal (LMPA), Setor de Patologia Animal (SPA), Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Av. Alberto Lamego, 2000 – Parque Califórnia, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Rachel Ribeiro Rodrigues
- Laboratório de Morfologia e Patologia Animal (LMPA), Setor de Patologia Animal (SPA), Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Av. Alberto Lamego, 2000 – Parque Califórnia, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Mariah Bianchi
- Laboratório de Morfologia e Patologia Animal (LMPA), Setor de Patologia Animal (SPA), Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Av. Alberto Lamego, 2000 – Parque Califórnia, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Gessica Gomes Vieira
- Laboratório de Morfologia e Patologia Animal (LMPA), Setor de Patologia Animal (SPA), Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Av. Alberto Lamego, 2000 – Parque Califórnia, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Lara Ribeiro
- Laboratório de Morfologia e Patologia Animal (LMPA), Setor de Patologia Animal (SPA), Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Av. Alberto Lamego, 2000 – Parque Califórnia, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Brenda Petronetto
- Laboratório de Morfologia e Patologia Animal (LMPA), Setor de Patologia Animal (SPA), Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Av. Alberto Lamego, 2000 – Parque Califórnia, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Aline Souza
- Laboratório de Morfologia e Patologia Animal (LMPA), Setor de Patologia Animal (SPA), Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Av. Alberto Lamego, 2000 – Parque Califórnia, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Renato Luiz Silveira
- Departamentos de Morfologia (MMO), Patologia e Clínica Veterinária (MCV), Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF), Niterói, RJ, Brazil
| | - Eulogio Carvalho
- Laboratório de Morfologia e Patologia Animal (LMPA), Setor de Patologia Animal (SPA), Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Av. Alberto Lamego, 2000 – Parque Califórnia, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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3
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Silva MADA, Medina RM, Leandro HJ, Ribeiro RB, Petronilha MBRG, Carvalho ECQDE, Silveira RL, Werneck MR, Shimoda E. Pathological changes by spirorchiid eggs in hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) stranded off brazilian coast. AN ACAD BRAS CIENC 2022; 94:e20201107. [PMID: 35830069 DOI: 10.1590/0001-3765202220201107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Eretmochelys imbricata (hawksbill turtle) is classified as a critically endangered species at world level; in Brazil, it is listed among the threatened species. Spirorchiids are parasites of the circulatory system of chelonians which may cause serious lesions in the various tissues of the host due to deposition of eggs in the bloodstream. In this context, the aim of the present study was to describe the pathology caused by spirorchiid eggs in E. imbricata from the Brazilian over a five year period. A total of 29 animals were analyzed, of which nine (31%) presented lesions associated to spirorchiids eggs. The lesions were: granulomatous enteritis in six (66.66%), granulomatous splenitis in five (55.55%), granulomatous hepatitis in three (33.33%), granulomatous pneumonia in three (33.33%), granulomatous pancreatitis in two (22.22%), and granulomatous adrenalitis in one specimen (11.11%). Concluded the main lesion in Eretmochelys imbricata was giant-cell granulomatous inflammatory reaction to the parasite's eggs. Animals exhibiting poor physical health were more susceptible to presenting such lesions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Aparecida DA Silva
- Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo/UFES, Departamento de Biologia, Programa de Pós garaduação em Ciências Veterinárias, Alto Universitário, sn, Guararema, 29500-000 Alegre, ES, Brazil
| | - Raphael M Medina
- Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro/UENF, Setor de Patologia Animal, Avenida Alberto Lamego, 2000, Parque Califórnia, 28013-602 Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil
| | - Hassan J Leandro
- Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro/UENF, Setor de Patologia Animal, Avenida Alberto Lamego, 2000, Parque Califórnia, 28013-602 Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil
| | - Rachel B Ribeiro
- Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro/UENF, Setor de Patologia Animal, Avenida Alberto Lamego, 2000, Parque Califórnia, 28013-602 Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil
| | - Mariah B R G Petronilha
- Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro/UENF, Setor de Patologia Animal, Avenida Alberto Lamego, 2000, Parque Califórnia, 28013-602 Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil
| | - Eulógio Carlos Q DE Carvalho
- Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro/UENF, Setor de Patologia Animal, Avenida Alberto Lamego, 2000, Parque Califórnia, 28013-602 Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil
| | - Renato Luiz Silveira
- , Centro de Ciências Médicas, Departamento de Morfologia, Rua Professor Hernani Mello, 101, Centro, 24210-130 Niterói, RJ, Brazil
| | - Max R Werneck
- BW Consultoria Veterinária, Rua Sueli Brazil Flores, 88, Praia Seca, 28970-000 Araruama, RJ, Brazil
| | - Eduardo Shimoda
- Universidade Cândido Mendes, Rua Anita Peçanha, 100, Parque São Caetano. 28030-335 Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil
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4
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Corner RD, Cribb TH, Cutmore SC. Vermetid gastropods as key intermediate hosts for a lineage of marine turtle blood flukes (Digenea: Spirorchiidae), with evidence of transmission at a turtle rookery. Int J Parasitol 2021; 52:225-241. [PMID: 34742720 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2021.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Blood flukes of the family Spirorchiidae Stunkard, 1921 are significant pathogens of marine turtles, both in the wild and in captivity. Despite causing considerable disease and mortality, little is known about the life cycles of marine species, with just four reports globally. No complete life cycle has been elucidated for any named species of marine spirorchiid, but the group is reported to use vermetid and fissurellid gastropods, and terebelliform polychaetes as intermediate hosts. Here we report molecular evidence that nine related spirorchiid species infect vermetid gastropods as first intermediate hosts from four localities along the coast of Queensland, Australia. ITS2 rDNA and cox1 mtDNA sequence data generated from vermetid infections provides the first definitive identifications for the intermediate hosts for the four species of Hapalotrema Looss, 1899 and Learedius learedi Price, 1934. Additionally, we provide a new locality report for larval stages of Amphiorchis sp., and evidence of three additional unidentified spirorchiid species in Australian waters. Based on the wealth of infections from vermetids during this study, we conclude that the previous preliminary report of a fissurellid limpet as the intermediate host for L. learedi was likely mistaken. The nine species found infecting vermetids during this study form a strongly supported clade exclusive of species of the other two marine spirorchiid genera for which sequence data are available; Carettacola Manter & Larson, 1950 which falls sister to the vermetid-infecting clade + a small clade of freshwater spirorchiids, and Neospirorchis Price, 1934 which is distantly related to the vermetid-infecting clade. We provide further evidence that spirorchiid transmission can occur in closed system aquaria and show that spirorchiid transmission occurs at both an important turtle rookery (Heron Island, southern Great Barrier Reef, Australia) and foraging ground (Moreton Bay, Australia). We discuss the implications of our findings for the epidemiology of the disease, control in captivity, and the evolution of vermetid exploitation by the Spirorchiidae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard D Corner
- The University of Queensland, School of Biological Sciences, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia.
| | - Thomas H Cribb
- The University of Queensland, School of Biological Sciences, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Scott C Cutmore
- The University of Queensland, School of Biological Sciences, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
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5
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Fitzpatrick DM, Tetnowski MA, Rosser TG, Pinckney RD, Marancik DP, Butler BP. GENETIC AND MORPHOLOGIC CHARACTERIZATION OF DIASCHISTORCHIS PANDUS (DIGENEA: PRONOCEPHALIDAE) TREMATODES EXTRACTED FROM HAWKSBILL TURTLES, ERETMOCHELYS IMBRICATA (TESTUDINES: CHELONIIDAE), IN GRENADA, WEST INDIES. J Parasitol 2021; 107:267-274. [PMID: 33784742 DOI: 10.1645/20-54] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The hawksbill turtle Eretmochelys imbricata is a critically endangered species with a worldwide distribution. Limited information is available about the naturally occurring intestinal parasites of this species and what impact these parasites may have on the health of the hawksbill turtle. Diaschistorchis pandus was identified postmortem in 5 hawksbill turtles from Grenada, West Indies, using morphologic characterization. Sanger sequencing was performed for conserved ribosomal regions (5.8S, ITS2, 28S) and the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene (COI). Phylogenetic analysis of the 28S rRNA gene sequence data shows D. pandus clustering with other trematodes in the family Pronocephalidae, corroborating morphological classification. No genetic sequences have been previously reported for this trematode species, which has limited the collection of objective epidemiological data about this parasite of marine turtles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel M Fitzpatrick
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, St. George's University, P.O. Box 7, True Blue Campus, True Blue, St. George Parish, Grenada, West Indies
| | - Monica A Tetnowski
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, St. George's University, P.O. Box 7, True Blue Campus, True Blue, St. George Parish, Grenada, West Indies
| | - Thomas G Rosser
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, P.O. Box 6100, Mississippi State, Mississippi 39762
| | - Rhonda D Pinckney
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, St. George's University, P.O. Box 7, True Blue Campus, True Blue, St. George Parish, Grenada, West Indies
| | - David P Marancik
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, St. George's University, P.O. Box 7, True Blue Campus, True Blue, St. George Parish, Grenada, West Indies
| | - Brian P Butler
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, St. George's University, P.O. Box 7, True Blue Campus, True Blue, St. George Parish, Grenada, West Indies
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Some Digenetic Trematodes Found in a Loggerhead Sea Turtle ( Caretta Caretta) from Brazil. Helminthologia 2021; 58:217-224. [PMID: 34248383 PMCID: PMC8256453 DOI: 10.2478/helm-2021-0023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2020] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
This paper reports three recovered species of digeneans from an adult loggerhead sea turtle - Caretta caretta (Testudines, Cheloniidae) in Brazil. These trematodes include Diaschistorchis pandus (Pronocephalidae), Cymatocarpus solearis (Brachycoeliidae) and Rhytidodes gelatinosus (Rhytidodidae) The first two represent new geographic records. A list of helminths reported from the Neotropical region, Gulf of Mexico and USA (Florida) is presented.
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Helminth Infection of the Loggerhead Sea Turtle Caretta caretta along the Coasts of Sicily and the North West Adriatic Sea. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11051408. [PMID: 34069158 PMCID: PMC8156711 DOI: 10.3390/ani11051408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Revised: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary We report new data on the presence of trematode and nematode parasites species in stranded specimens of loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta). These parasites can potentially cause severe damage to internal organs, endangering the lives of the animals. The results showed a greater presence of digeneans. Abstract We provide new data on the presence of helminth parasites in 64 individual loggerhead sea turtles Caretta caretta stranded along the coasts of Sicily and the northwest Adriatic Sea between June 2014 and August 2016. The necropsy examination revealed 31 individuals (48.4%) positive for endoparasites, showing a greater prevalence of trematodes than nematodes. In particular, seven species and a single genus of Trematoda (Hapalotrema) and a single species and genus of Nematoda (Kathlania) were identified. Among the Digenea flukes the species with the highest prevalence of infection were Rhytidodes gelatinosus (34.6%) and Hapalotrema sp. (33.3%), while among the Nematoda they were Kathlania sp. (33.3%) and Sulcascaris sulcata (33.3%). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was applied among the recovery sites of the stranded loggerhead sea turtles and prevalence of endoparasites was used to highlight any relationship between the parasites and the origin of the hosts. ANOVA showed significant differences (p < 0.001) among the data used.
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Molecular evidence of new freshwater turtle blood flukes (Digenea: Spirorchiidae) in the intermediate snail host Biomphalaria occidentalis Paraense, 1981 in an urban aquatic ecosystem in Brazil. Parasitol Res 2020; 120:133-143. [PMID: 33164155 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-020-06945-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 10/25/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
In this study, two potentially new species of turtle blood flukes (TBFs) (Digenea: Spirorchiidae) have been recorded from South Brazil. The spirorchiid parasites infect the vascular system of turtles, thereby compromising their health. The life cycle of these parasites is not well studied. The larval stage of cercaria is found in intermediate gastropod hosts, with some species presenting similar morphological characteristics, which can result in misinterpretations when using only morphological taxonomy for species identification. In this study, we recorded a single morphotype belonging to the family Spirorchiidae in Biomphalaria occidentalis in an urban aquatic ecosystem in Brazil. However, molecular data (28S rDNA and cytochrome oxidase subunit I) confirmed the presence of two species of Spirorchiidae in the sampled environment; both phylogenetically close to genera previously studied in freshwater turtles from the Peruvian Amazon. In this study, species characterization was possible because of molecular tools. We recommend using more than one molecular marker in future studies focusing on TBFs, which need attention about their evolutionary history and ecology to understand their distribution in South America.
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Cucullanus carettae Baylis, 1923, in a loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) from the Adriatic sea: first detection and molecular characterization. Parasitol Res 2020; 120:341-345. [PMID: 33118608 PMCID: PMC7846504 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-020-06936-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2019] [Accepted: 10/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Cucullanus carettae Baylis, 1923 (Nematoda: Cucullanidae) is found worldwide in loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta). Regarding the Mediterranean, C. carettae has been identified in the Tyrrhenian and the Ionian Sea and a unique description of a Cucullanus sp. specimen in loggerheads from the Adriatic Sea has been reported in the literature so far. In the framework of a bio-monitoring project of the Abruzzo and Molise coasts, a parasitological survey was performed on stranded and by-caught sea turtles, at the Istituto Zooprofilattico of Abruzzo and Molise “G. Caporale.” During necropsy, the gastrointestinal system of 72 stranded loggerhead turtles was analyzed for the presence of endoparasites and fecal samples were collected for coprological examination. Adult C. carettae (n = 123) was found in the upper intestine of one loggerhead turtle, associated with chronic lymphoplasmocytic enteritis. Additionally, five stool samples (6.9%) were positive for Cucullanus sp. eggs. Molecular characterization of adult nematodes was carried out to study phylogenetic relationships among the Cucullanus species. To our knowledge, this is the first morphological and molecular identification of C. carettae in loggerhead turtles from the Adriatic Sea. Additional studies on the distribution of this parasite in the Mediterranean are encouraged.
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10
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Santoro M, Palomba M, Mattiucci S, Osca D, Crocetta F. New Parasite Records for the Sunfish Mola mola in the Mediterranean Sea and Their Potential Use as Biological Tags for Long-Distance Host Migration. Front Vet Sci 2020; 7:579728. [PMID: 33195589 PMCID: PMC7641614 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2020.579728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies describing the parasite fauna of sunfish species from the Mediterranean Sea are to date limited, despite information gained through parasitological examination may reveal unknown ecological and biological aspects of both hosts and parasites. Moreover, recent molecular studies on sunfish taxonomy revealed the presence of two species belonging to the genus Mola in the Mediterranean basin, namely M. mola and M. alexandrini. These two fish taxa have long been synonymized or confused among them, which implies that the majority of the studies carried out so far reported the parasites infecting both species under a single host species, generally referred to as M. mola. We hereby investigated the parasite fauna of a 43 cm long M. mola specimen from the Mediterranean Sea, whose identification was confirmed by molecular tool, and provided the first evidence of the occurrence of the nematode Anisakis simplex (s.s.) and of the cestode Gymnorhynchus isuri in Mola species anywhere. The use of helminth species as biological tags for the sunfish is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Santoro
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy
| | - Marialetizia Palomba
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Simonetta Mattiucci
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - David Osca
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy
| | - Fabio Crocetta
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy
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11
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Marangi M, Carlino P, Profico C, Olivieri V, Totaro G, Furii G, Marzano G, Papini RA. First multicenter coprological survey on helminth parasite communities of free-living loggerhead sea turtles Caretta caretta (Linnaeus, 1758) from the Adriatic Sea and Northern Ionian Sea. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-PARASITES AND WILDLIFE 2020; 11:207-212. [PMID: 32154102 PMCID: PMC7052436 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2020.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Revised: 02/16/2020] [Accepted: 02/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
The prevalence of endoparasite infections in 83 free-living specimens of Caretta caretta, classified as vulnerable species, from the Adriatic Sea and Northern Ionian Sea was investigated by coprological examination. Thirty-seven (44.6%) turtles were found to be infected with helminths. The helminth infections found were: Rhytidodes gelatinosus and Sulcascaris sulcata (18.1% each), Hapalotrema mistroides (13.2%), Cymatocarpus solearis (9.6%), Eniodotrema megachondrus (7.2%), Kathlania/Tonaudia sp. (3.6%), Neospirorchis sp., Octangium sagitta and Plesiochorus cymbiformis (1.2% each). There were no significant differences in the total prevalence of helminth infections between sexes, size classes, and seasonal periods. Conversely, the prevalence of helminth infections was significantly higher (P < 0.01) in accidentally caught turtles than in stranded turtles. Highly significant differences in prevalence of helminthiases were also seen among marine sampling areas. This report provides important baseline information about the helminth fauna of free-living C. caretta in the examined geographical region. This is also the first report of O. sagitta infection in C. caretta thus broadening the host range of the parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianna Marangi
- Department of Science of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Foggia, 71121, Foggia, Italy
| | - Piero Carlino
- Sea Turtle Rescue Center, Natural History Museum of Salento, Sp. Calimera-Borgagne km 1, 73021, Calimera, Lecce, Italy
| | - Chiara Profico
- Sea Turtle Rescue Center "L. Cagnolaro", Centro Studi Cetacei, Via di Sotto 5, 65125, Pescara, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Olivieri
- Sea Turtle Rescue Center "L. Cagnolaro", Centro Studi Cetacei, Via di Sotto 5, 65125, Pescara, Italy
| | - Giovanni Totaro
- Sea Turtle Rescue Center Legambiente, Sp. 141 delle Saline km 7+400, 71043, Manfredonia, Italy
| | - Giovanni Furii
- Sea Turtle Rescue Center Legambiente, Sp. 141 delle Saline km 7+400, 71043, Manfredonia, Italy
| | - Giacomo Marzano
- Sea Turtle Rescue Center "Gino Cantoro", Torre Guaceto Natural Riserve, 72012, Carovigno, Brindisi, Italy
| | - Roberto Amerigo Papini
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, Veterinary Teaching Hospital "Mario Modenato", University of Pisa, 56121, San Piero a Grado, Pisa, Italy
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12
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Epidemiology of blood flukes (Digenea: Spirorchiidae) in sea turtles from Tyrrhenian and Adriatic Seas, off Italy. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:52. [PMID: 32033615 PMCID: PMC7006393 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-3922-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2019] [Accepted: 01/31/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The Spirorchiidae is a family of blood flukes parasitizing turtles. Spirorchiids may cause a wide range of inflammatory reactions in the vascular system of their host being frequently implicated with stranding and death of sea turtles worldwide. Recent studies revealed the presence of two spirorchiid species in the Mediterranean basin. Our study presents comparative epidemiological data of spirorchiid infections in loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) stranded during an eight-year period from Adriatic and Tyrrhenian Seas, and the first report of Neospirorchis Neogen-11 in a green turtle (Chelonia mydas). Methods We screened a total of 319 carcasses of loggerhead turtles stranded from January 2011 to December 2018 along the Tyrrhenian coast (n = 111) and the north-western Adriatic coast (n = 208) of Italy using traditional (copromicroscopy and histopathology) and molecular assays. Three green turtles from the Tyrrhenian coast were also included in the study. Results A total of 56 (17.5%) loggerhead turtles and one green turtle (33.3%) were found to be infected with spirorchiid flukes. Amplification, sequencing of the ITS2 region of the ribosomal RNA gene cluster and BLAST analysis confirmed the presence of Hapalotrema mistroides and Neospirorchis Neogen-11 in 51 (16.0%) and 24 (7.5%) loggerhead turtles, respectively, and Neospirorchis Neogen-11 in an infected green turtle. Differences in prevalence of infection between the two sampling areas were found. Conclusions The risk of spirorchiid infection in the Tyrrhenian Sea is lower than in the Adriatic Sea and in general the risk of infection in the Mediterranean is lower than in other geographical locations. Differences in the prevalence of infection between the two sampling areas were related to the differences of regional habitats supporting different abundance of spirorchiid intermediate hosts. A systematic monitoring to evaluate the progress of the infection is recommended, as well as studies on the occurrence and distribution of spirorchiid species from other Mediterranean areas.![]()
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13
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Marchiori E, Dotto G, Tessarin C, Santoro M, Affuso A, Tarricone L, Di Renzo L, Freggi D, Spoto V, Marcer F. A pilot study on molecular diagnosis of Hapalotrema mistroides (Digenea: Spirorchiidae) infection in blood samples of live loggerhead turtles Caretta caretta. BMC Vet Res 2020; 16:16. [PMID: 31937305 PMCID: PMC6961338 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-020-2232-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2019] [Accepted: 01/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Parasites of the family Spirorchiidae cause disease and mortality in marine and freshwater turtles; two species, Hapalotrema mistroides and Neospirorchis sp., are reported in the resident population of loggerhead turtles of the Mediterranean Sea, with the first being the most widespread. In vivo diagnosis of spirorchidiasis can represent a challenge in guaranteeing prompt control and treatment of the disease and is currently limited to copromicroscopy. The aim of this study was the development of a real time PCR assay with TaqMan probe for the detection of H. mistroides infection in the blood of live loggerhead turtles, Caretta caretta, hospitalized in rehabilitation centres. Its potential use for in vivo diagnosis is explored. RESULTS The developed real time PCR successfully detected H. mistroides DNA from both positive controls and experimental blood samples of live loggerhead sea turtles, showing good specificity, sensitivity and good reaction efficiency. Two out of three turtles which had demonstrated positivity at copromicroscopy also tested positive to this blood assay; DNA of H. mistroides was detected within the blood of one sea turtle, which tested negative for copromicroscopy. CONCLUSIONS This study describes a specific and rapid molecular assay to detect H. mistroides infection from live sea turtles and highlights for the first time the presence of DNA of this species in turtle blood samples. Since this assay is able to detect low amounts of the parasitic free DNA in blood samples, its application could be helpful for in vivo diagnosis of H. mistroides infection as well as for epidemiological purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica Marchiori
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, Viale dell'Università 16, 35020, Legnaro, PD, Italy.
| | - Giorgia Dotto
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, Viale dell'Università 16, 35020, Legnaro, PD, Italy
| | - Cinzia Tessarin
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, Viale dell'Università 16, 35020, Legnaro, PD, Italy
| | - Mario Santoro
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale 1, 80121, Naples, Italy
| | - Andrea Affuso
- Centro Ricerche Tartarughe Marine, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Via Nuova Macello 16, 80055, Portici, NA, Italy
| | - Luciano Tarricone
- Veterinary practitioner, Centro Recupero Il Benvenuto, S.S. 16 2287/C, 45038, Polesella, RO, Italy
| | - Ludovica Di Renzo
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Abruzzo e Molise "G. Caporale", Via Campo Boario, 64100, Teramo, Italy.,Centro Recupero e Riabilitazione Tartarughe Marine "L. Cagnolaro" Centro Studi Cetacei Onlus, Via di Sotto, 65125, Pescara, Italy
| | - Daniela Freggi
- Centro Recupero Tartarughe Marine di Lampedusa, Lungomare L. Rizzo, 92010, Lampedusa, AG, Italy
| | - Vincenzoleo Spoto
- Centro Recupero Tartarughe Marine di Lampedusa, Lungomare L. Rizzo, 92010, Lampedusa, AG, Italy
| | - Federica Marcer
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, Viale dell'Università 16, 35020, Legnaro, PD, Italy
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14
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Quantifying Spirorchiid Eggs in Splenic Histological Samples from Green Turtles. Helminthologia 2019; 56:269-272. [PMID: 31662700 PMCID: PMC6799573 DOI: 10.2478/helm-2019-0020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2019] [Accepted: 05/09/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The present study proposes a new methodology for the quantification of parasite eggs in animal tissue. Quantification of parasites are important to understand epidemiology of spirorchiid infections in sea turtles, however different methodologies for quantifying Spirorchiidae eggs in turtle tissues have been used. The most representative way to quantify Spirorchiidae burdens in tissues is counting eggs / g of tissue, however, this method is very laborious. As an alternative, we propose quantifying number of Spirorchiidae eggs/ area of tissue on a microscope slide. We compared this method to number of eggs / slide, a common metric of egg burden in turtle tissues. Both methods correlated well with eggs / g with eggs/mm2 of tissue having better correlation.
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15
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Pace A, Rinaldi L, Ianniello D, Borrelli L, Cringoli G, Fioretti A, Hochscheid S, Dipineto L. Gastrointestinal investigation of parasites and Enterobacteriaceae in loggerhead sea turtles from Italian coasts. BMC Vet Res 2019; 15:370. [PMID: 31653209 PMCID: PMC6815054 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-019-2113-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2019] [Accepted: 09/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Caretta caretta is the most abundant sea turtle species in the Mediterranean, and studies on this species have vastly expanded during recent years, including those investigating gut bacterial and parasitic communities. Members of these communities have been reported with variable prevalence and pathogenicity, mainly depending on their host and environment (e.g. lifespan, distribution, habitat, diet, health status and stressors). Indeed, many species commonly inhabiting the sea turtle gastrointestinal tract exhibit an opportunistic behaviour. This study aimed to provide baseline data on enterobacterial and parasitic composition, through bacteriological culture-based methods and the FLOTAC parasitological technique, in cloacal and faecal samples of 30 live Caretta caretta, examined upon their arrival at the Marine Turtle Research Centre (Portici, Italy). Results Enterobacteriaceae were isolated in 18/23 cloacal samples (78.3%), with Citrobacter and Morganella as the most common genera, followed by Proteus, Enterobacter, Providencia, and Hafnia. Parasitic elements were detected in 11/30 faecal samples (36.7%), with Enodiotrema, Rhytidodes, and Eimeria as most common genera, followed by Pachypsolus and Cymatocarpus. Additionally, Angiodyctium is reported for the first time in this host. The majority (47.8%) of sea turtles hosted exclusively Enterobacteriaceae, whereas 30.4% hosted both parasites and Enterobacteriaceae; the remaining 21.8% hosted neither of the agents. Conclusions Bacteria and parasites evaluated in the present study are common in Mediterranean loggerhead sea turtles, with slight differences between the western and eastern basin. Although naturally present in the gastrointestinal system of free-living sea turtles, their relationship with these hosts might range from mutualism to parasitism. Indeed, members of the gut community might express their pathogenic potential in immune-compromised animals, such as those in rehabilitation facilities. Therefore, it is advisable to include in the standard work-up of rescued sea turtles a screening procedure for such opportunistic agents, in order to better evaluate the animal’s health status and achieve timely intervention with appropriate treatment, thus improving rehabilitation. Furthermore, data collected from free-living sea turtles represent a starting point for investigating wild populations. However, further studies are needed to clarify the differences between sea turtle’s normal gut microbiome and pathobiome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonino Pace
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University Federico II, via Delpino 1, 80137, Naples, Italy. .,Marine Turtle Research Centre, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, via Nuova Macello 16, 80055, Portici, Na, Italy.
| | - Laura Rinaldi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University Federico II, via Delpino 1, 80137, Naples, Italy
| | - Davide Ianniello
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University Federico II, via Delpino 1, 80137, Naples, Italy
| | - Luca Borrelli
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University Federico II, via Delpino 1, 80137, Naples, Italy.,Task Force on Microbiome Studies, University Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Cringoli
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University Federico II, via Delpino 1, 80137, Naples, Italy
| | - Alessandro Fioretti
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University Federico II, via Delpino 1, 80137, Naples, Italy
| | - Sandra Hochscheid
- Marine Turtle Research Centre, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, via Nuova Macello 16, 80055, Portici, Na, Italy
| | - Ludovico Dipineto
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University Federico II, via Delpino 1, 80137, Naples, Italy.,Task Force on Microbiome Studies, University Federico II, Naples, Italy
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16
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Dutton HR, Warren MB, Bullard SA. New Genus and Species of Turtle Blood Fluke (Platyhelminthes: Digenea: Schistosomatoidea) Infecting Six-Tubercled Amazon River Turtles, Podocnemis sextuberculata (Pleurodira: Podocnemididae) from the Amazon River Basin (Peru). J Parasitol 2019. [DOI: 10.1645/19-68] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Haley R. Dutton
- Aquatic Parasitology Laboratory, School of Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Aquatic Sciences, College of Agriculture, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, 36849
| | - Micah B. Warren
- Aquatic Parasitology Laboratory, School of Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Aquatic Sciences, College of Agriculture, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, 36849
| | - Stephen A. Bullard
- Aquatic Parasitology Laboratory, School of Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Aquatic Sciences, College of Agriculture, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, 36849
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17
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Bullard SA, Roberts JR, Warren MB, Dutton HR, Whelan NV, Ruiz CF, Platt TR, Tkach VV, Brant SV, Halanych KM. Neotropical Turtle Blood Flukes: Two New Genera and Species from the Amazon River Basin with a Key to Genera and Comments on a Marine-Derived Parasite Lineage in South America. J Parasitol 2019. [DOI: 10.1645/19-27] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Stephen A. Bullard
- Aquatic Parasitology Laboratory, School of Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Aquatic Sciences, College of Agriculture, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama 36849
| | - Jackson R. Roberts
- Louisiana State University Museum of Natural Sciences, Biological Sciences Department, Louisiana State University, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803
| | - Micah B. Warren
- Aquatic Parasitology Laboratory, School of Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Aquatic Sciences, College of Agriculture, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama 36849
| | - Haley R. Dutton
- Aquatic Parasitology Laboratory, School of Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Aquatic Sciences, College of Agriculture, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama 36849
| | - Nathan V. Whelan
- Southeastern Conservation Genetics Laboratory, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama 36849
| | - Carlos F. Ruiz
- Aquatic Parasitology Laboratory, School of Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Aquatic Sciences, College of Agriculture, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama 36849
| | - Thomas R. Platt
- Department of Biology, Saint Mary's College, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556
| | - Vasyl V. Tkach
- Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, North Dakota 58202
| | - Sara V. Brant
- Museum of Southwestern Biology, Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131
| | - Kenneth M. Halanych
- Molette Biology Laboratory for Environmental and Climate Change Studies (MBL), Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama 36849
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18
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Abstract
The causes of the beaching and death of sea turtles have not been fully clarified and continue to be studied. Mild, moderate and severe lesions caused by spirorchiidiosis have been seen for decades in different organs and were recently defined as the cause of death of a loggerhead turtle. In the present study, eyes and optic nerves were analysed in green sea turtles with spirorchiidiosis and no other debilitating factors. Injuries to the optic nerve and choroid layer were described in 235 animals (90%) infected with spirorchiids. Turtles with ocular spirorchiidiosis are approximately three times more likely to be cachectic than turtles with spirorchiidiosis without ocular involvement.
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19
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Chapman PA, Cribb TH, Flint M, Traub RJ, Blair D, Kyaw-Tanner MT, Mills PC. Spirorchiidiasis in marine turtles: the current state of knowledge. DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS 2019; 133:217-245. [PMID: 31187736 DOI: 10.3354/dao03348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Blood flukes of the family Spirorchiidae are important disease agents in marine turtles. The family is near cosmopolitan in distribution. Twenty-nine marine species across 10 genera are currently recognized, but taxonomic problems remain and it is likely that more species will be discovered. Spirorchiids infect the circulatory system, where they and their eggs cause a range of inflammatory lesions. Infection is sometimes implicated in the death of the turtle. In some regions, prevalence in stranded turtles is close to 100%. Knowledge of life cycles, important for control and epidemiological studies, has proven elusive until recently, when the first intermediate host identifications were made. Recent molecular studies of eggs and adult worms indicate that a considerable level of intrageneric and intraspecific diversity exists. The characterization of this diversity is likely to be of importance in exploring parasite taxonomy and ecology, unravelling life cycles, identifying the differential pathogenicity of genotypes and species, and developing antemortem diagnostic tools, all of which are major priorities for future spirorchiid research. Diagnosis to date has been reliant on copromicroscopy or necropsy, which both have significant limitations. The current lack of reliable antemortem diagnostic options is a roadblock to determining the true prevalence and epidemiology of spirorchiidiasis and the development of effective treatment regimes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phoebe A Chapman
- Veterinary-Marine Animal Research, Teaching and Investigation, School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland 4343, Australia
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20
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Santoro M, Marchiori E, Iaccarino D, Uberti BD, Cassini R, Di Nocera F, Cerrone A, Galiero G, Marcer F. Epidemiology of Sulcascaris sulcata (Nematoda: Anisakidae) ulcerous gastritis in the Mediterranean loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta). Parasitol Res 2019; 118:1457-1463. [PMID: 30859311 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-019-06283-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2018] [Accepted: 03/01/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Sulcascaris sulcata Rudolphi 1819 is a gastric nematode parasite of sea turtles. Here, we report the occurrence and describe for the first time the pathological changes caused by S. sulcata in the Mediterranean loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) stranded along the Tyrrhenian coast and northern Adriatic coast of Italy. Prevalence of infection was significantly higher in loggerhead sea turtles from the Adriatic Sea. Both prevalence and abundance of infection showed an increasing trend along with host age classes from both geographical localities. Nevertheless, while many small loggerhead sea turtles were found infected from the Adriatic Sea, only bigger individuals were infected from the Tyrrhenian Sea. The most common gross pathological change was a mucous gastritis with focal to multifocal raised ulcerous lesions roundish to irregular in shape ranging from 1 to over 20 cm in length, and cream-yellowish to greenish in color. The severity grade of gastritis increased with higher number of S. sulcata individuals. Microscopic pathological changes ranged from atrophic gastritis with heterophilic infiltration in the lamina propria to the destruction of the mucosal and sub-mucosal surfaces and necrosis. Results here obtained demonstrate that S. sulcata may cause ulcerous gastritis in both samples of loggerhead sea turtles studied from the Mediterranean Sea. Observed differences in S. sulcata infection among the different host age classes and between the two studied basins are likely linked to the differences of regional habitat and intermediate prey host availability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Santoro
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, 80055, Portici, Italy.
| | - Erica Marchiori
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, 35020, Legnaro, Italy
| | - Doriana Iaccarino
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, 80055, Portici, Italy
| | | | - Rudi Cassini
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, 35020, Legnaro, Italy
| | - Fabio Di Nocera
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, 80055, Portici, Italy
| | - Anna Cerrone
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, 80055, Portici, Italy
| | - Giorgio Galiero
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, 80055, Portici, Italy
| | - Federica Marcer
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, 35020, Legnaro, Italy
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Is Amphiorchis (Digenea: Spirorchiidae) an Exclusive Parasite of Sea Turtles? Helminthologia 2019; 56:75-80. [PMID: 31662676 PMCID: PMC6662026 DOI: 10.2478/helm-2018-0045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2018] [Accepted: 12/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The side-necked turtle Hydromedusa tectifera commonly inhabits the tributary streams of the Rio de La Plata and occasionally is found in brackish waters within the estuary of the Rio de La Plata. Few studies have been conducted on its parasitic fauna, especially in Argentina. In the present work Amphiorchis sp. is registered for the first time in a freshwater turtle, expanding the knowledge about the specifi city of the genus that until now was considered inhabiting only marine turtles.
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22
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Marchiori E, Cassini R, Ricci I, Marcer F. Qualitative and quantitative methods for estimating Spirorchiidiasis burden in sea turtles. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-PARASITES AND WILDLIFE 2018; 7:409-414. [PMID: 30416958 PMCID: PMC6216042 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2018.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2018] [Revised: 10/19/2018] [Accepted: 10/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Infection by blood flukes Hapalotrema mistroides and Neospirorchis sp. (Digenea: Spirorchiidae) has been recently reported in Caretta caretta (Linnaeus, 1758) in the Mediterranean Sea. Observations of post mortem lesions are generally used to assess disease severity, and few attempts have been made to standardize the evaluation of the parasitic burden from tissue egg counts. Faeces and spleen homogenates of 105 loggerheads from the northwestern Adriatic Sea were submitted to a sedimentation-flotation technique for the research of spirorchiid eggs; molecular techniques were used for unequivocal identification. Egg quantification for positive faeces and spleen samples was achieved using a modified McMaster method. Spleen samples were also submitted to quantification through the only method cited in the literature for similar purposes, which involves preventive chemical digestion. Correlations between splenic counts obtained from the two different methods and between faecal and splenic egg burdens were calculated using Spearman's rho test. Concordance between studies on eggs in faeces and spleen tissue was also calculated. Eggs of H. mistroides and Neogen-11 were found in spleen and faecal samples. Strong correlations were found between splenic egg burdens calculated from the two methods for H. mistroides, demonstrating that the modified McMaster method can be used for quantification. A multiplying factor must be used before drawing comparisons, as egg burdens are higher in value when measured after chemical digestion. High concordance was obtained from a qualitative examination of faeces and spleen tissue of H. mistroides, showing that copromicroscopic examination can be used for in vivo diagnosis. As weak correlations were found between faecal and splenic egg counts, faecal burden cannot be regarded as indicative of disease severity. For Neogen-11, low concordance was found between faeces and spleen tissue, likely reflecting lower levels of egg embolization in organs. A method for quantifying splenic spirorchiid egg burden in sea turtles is proposed. The new method reliably esteems tissue egg burden, and has easy implementation. Fecal eggs output is also quantified and compared to splenic egg burden. Fecal egg output does not realistically esteem disease severity. Eggs of the different genera show different degree of embolization in the spleen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica Marchiori
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, Viale dell'Università 16, 35020, Legnaro, PD, Italy
| | - Rudi Cassini
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, Viale dell'Università 16, 35020, Legnaro, PD, Italy
| | - Irene Ricci
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Via Gentile III Da Varano, 62032, Camerino, MC, Italy
| | - Federica Marcer
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, Viale dell'Università 16, 35020, Legnaro, PD, Italy
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23
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de Buron I, Colon BL, Siegel SV, Oberstaller J, Rivero A, Kyle DE. First evidence of polychaete intermediate hosts for Neospirorchis spp. marine turtle blood flukes (Trematoda: Spirorchiidae). Int J Parasitol 2018; 48:1097-1106. [PMID: 30367866 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2018.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2018] [Revised: 08/29/2018] [Accepted: 08/31/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Life cycles of spirorchiids that infect the vascular system of turtles are poorly understood. Few life cycles of these blood flukes have been elucidated and all intermediate hosts reported are gastropods (Mollusca), regardless of whether the definitive host is a freshwater or a marine turtle. During a recent survey of blood fluke larvae in polychaetes on the coast of South Carolina, USA, spirorchiid-like cercariae were found to infect the polychaetes Amphitrite ornata (Terebellidae) and Enoplobranchus sanguineus (Polycirridae). Cercariae were large, furcate, with a ventral acetabulum, but no eyespots were observed. Partial sequences of D1-D2 domains of the large ribosomal subunit, the internal transcribed spacer 2, and the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase 1 genes allowed the identification of sporocysts and cercariae as belonging to two unidentified Neospirorchis species reported from the green turtle, Chelonia mydas, in Florida: Neospirorchis sp. (Neogen 13) in A. ornata and Neospirorchis sp. (Neogen 14) in E. sanguineus. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that infection of annelids by blood flukes evolved separately in aporocotylids and spirorchiids. Our results support the contention that the Spirorchiidae is not a valid family and suggest that Neospirorchis is a monophyletic clade within the paraphyletic Spirorchiidae. Since specificity of spirorchiids for their intermediate hosts is broader than it was thus far assumed, surveys of annelids in turtle habitats are necessary to further our understanding of the life history of these pathogenic parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isaure de Buron
- Department of Biology, College of Charleston, 205 Ft Johnson Road, Charleston, SC 29412, USA
| | - Beatrice L Colon
- Center for Tropical & Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Coverdell Room 370B, 500 D.W. Brooks Drive, Athens, GA 30602, USA; Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, 3270 Spectrum Blvd, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Sasha V Siegel
- Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, 3270 Spectrum Blvd, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Jenna Oberstaller
- Center for Global Health Infectious Diseases Research, University of South Florida, 3270 Spectrum Blvd, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Andrea Rivero
- Center for Global Health Infectious Diseases Research, University of South Florida, 3270 Spectrum Blvd, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Dennis E Kyle
- Center for Tropical & Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Coverdell Room 370B, 500 D.W. Brooks Drive, Athens, GA 30602, USA; Center for Global Health Infectious Diseases Research, University of South Florida, 3270 Spectrum Blvd, Tampa, FL 33612, USA.
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Marchiori E, Negrisolo E, Cassini R, Garofalo L, Poppi L, Tessarin C, Marcer F. Cardiovascular flukes (Trematoda: Spirorchiidae) in Caretta caretta Linnaeus, 1758 from the Mediterranean Sea. Parasit Vectors 2017; 10:467. [PMID: 29017541 PMCID: PMC5633879 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-017-2396-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2016] [Accepted: 09/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The northern Adriatic Sea represents one of the most important neritic foraging grounds for the loggerhead sea turtle Caretta caretta L. in the Mediterranean Sea. Four genera of blood flukes with variable prevalence and pathogenic impact have been reported worldwide in this species. Hapalotrema Looss, 1899 and Amphiorchis Price, 1934 are the only two genera reported in Mediterranean waters; however, updated data describing spirorchiidiasis in the central and eastern Mediterranean and infection prevalence are still lacking. This work aimed to investigate the presence and pathology of spirorchiidiasis in C. caretta in the Mediterranean Sea. METHODS One hundred sixty-eight animals stranded along the northwestern Adriatic coast between 2009 and 2015 were submitted to necropsy and subsequent analyses for the detection of adult flukes, detection of eggs in the faeces and spleen and histopathology. Molecular analyses were carried out on hosts (mitochondrial D-loop) and parasites (28S gene and ITS2 spacer) to trace the turtle origins and identify the fluke phylogenetic relationships. RESULTS Spirorchiidiasis was detected in 16.7% of the animals. Hapalotrema mistroides (Monticelli, 1899) and Neospirorchis sp. were found in twenty-six and ten cases, respectively. Adult flukes were found in six cases, while eggs were detectable through copromicroscopic examination for all infected turtles, and the results for the detection of eggs in the spleen agreed with the copromicroscopic analysis. Only mild lesions were observed. Eggs of types 1 and 3 were grossly visible in the gastrointestinal mucosa, vasculitis was rarely observed in the heart and great vessels, and multifocal granulomas were widespread in the tissues. Molecular identification unambiguously assigned the spirorchiid samples to H. mistroides and Neospirorchis sp. Genetic characterization of loggerhead mtDNA pointed to a Mediterranean origin of the turtle hosts. CONCLUSION This survey provides new data on the spread of spirorchiidiasis in the Mediterranean loggerhead sea turtle population and reports for the first time the presence of Neospirorchis spp. in this basin. The infections did not have a causal effect on the death nor a strong impact on the general health status of the animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica Marchiori
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, Viale dell'Università, Legnaro, Italy.
| | - Enrico Negrisolo
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, Viale dell'Università, Legnaro, Italy
| | - Rudi Cassini
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, Viale dell'Università, Legnaro, Italy
| | - Luisa Garofalo
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Regioni Lazio e Toscana, Centro di Referenza Nazionale per la Medicina Forense Veterinaria, Rieti, Italy
| | - Lisa Poppi
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, Viale dell'Università, Legnaro, Italy
| | - Cinzia Tessarin
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, Viale dell'Università, Legnaro, Italy
| | - Federica Marcer
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, Viale dell'Università, Legnaro, Italy
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