Three endangered species of sea turtles are present in the Mediterranean Sea. In particular, Caretta caretta has been included in the category "critically endangered species". There is a lack of studies about the earlier development stages such as incubation and hatching, and the purpose of this work is to evaluate the cause of death of not hatched specimens of Caretta caretta from Linosa Island. Forty‐seven Loggerhead Sea Turtles (Caretta caretta) found dead at the opening of the nests on Linosa Island beach (Italy) in summer 2006 were examined. Biometrical measures and depth of the eggs were recorded. Samples were submitted to histological examination and stained with Haematoxylin‐Eosin, Grocott, Periodic Acid Schiff, Von Kossa and Movat pentachrome. Immunohistochemistry for Herpesvirus was performed. July and August temperatures of the Linosa Island from 2004 to 2008 were registered. Statistical analysis were performed using Fisher’s exact test, chi‐squared and Kruskal‐Wallis test. Biometrical measures showed that 17 (41%) animals were hatchlings and all the other animals were in the last third of development. In 3 (6%) cases a focal non‐suppurative infiltration of the heart was observed. An increasing amount of melanomacrophages (9 cases; 19%), haemorrages (3 cases; 6%) and vacuolar degeneration (47 cases; 100%) were present in the liver. Edema was observed in the lung (8 cases; 17%) and 26 (59%) animals revealed glomerular and tubular calcium carbonate calculosis involving over 50% of the renal parenchyma in 19 of 26 animals (70%). Immunohistochemistry was negative for Herpesvirus. Statistical analysis revealed an association between nest and renal calculosis and between differences of the average temperature of July and August and the other considered years. The most significant lesions were present in the liver and kidneys. Vacuolar degeneration of the liver associated with increased melanomacrophages is indicative of a chronic inflammatory process probably due to toxicosis. The presence of calcium oxalate crystals in the kidney is believed to be linked to egg dehydration due to increased environmental average temperatures. Therefore it is supposed that the cause of the hatching failure was the dehydration of eggs and that the hepatic lesions were due to a chronic degenerative process associated with the vertical transmission of toxic substances.

PATHOLOGY OF FREE‐LIVING LOGGERHEAD TURTLES (CARETTA CARETTA) EMBRYOS ON THE ISLAND OF ITALY (LINOSA) / Longato, E.; Scaglione, F. E.; Appino, Simonetta; Pilia, M.; Capobianco Dondona, A.; De Lucia, A.; Nannarelli, S.; Bollo, E.. - (2013). (Intervento presentato al convegno LXVII Convegno Nazionale S.I.S.Vet Società Italiana delle Scienze Veterinarie tenutosi a Brescia 2013).

PATHOLOGY OF FREE‐LIVING LOGGERHEAD TURTLES (CARETTA CARETTA) EMBRYOS ON THE ISLAND OF ITALY (LINOSA)

APPINO, Simonetta;
2013-01-01

Abstract

Three endangered species of sea turtles are present in the Mediterranean Sea. In particular, Caretta caretta has been included in the category "critically endangered species". There is a lack of studies about the earlier development stages such as incubation and hatching, and the purpose of this work is to evaluate the cause of death of not hatched specimens of Caretta caretta from Linosa Island. Forty‐seven Loggerhead Sea Turtles (Caretta caretta) found dead at the opening of the nests on Linosa Island beach (Italy) in summer 2006 were examined. Biometrical measures and depth of the eggs were recorded. Samples were submitted to histological examination and stained with Haematoxylin‐Eosin, Grocott, Periodic Acid Schiff, Von Kossa and Movat pentachrome. Immunohistochemistry for Herpesvirus was performed. July and August temperatures of the Linosa Island from 2004 to 2008 were registered. Statistical analysis were performed using Fisher’s exact test, chi‐squared and Kruskal‐Wallis test. Biometrical measures showed that 17 (41%) animals were hatchlings and all the other animals were in the last third of development. In 3 (6%) cases a focal non‐suppurative infiltration of the heart was observed. An increasing amount of melanomacrophages (9 cases; 19%), haemorrages (3 cases; 6%) and vacuolar degeneration (47 cases; 100%) were present in the liver. Edema was observed in the lung (8 cases; 17%) and 26 (59%) animals revealed glomerular and tubular calcium carbonate calculosis involving over 50% of the renal parenchyma in 19 of 26 animals (70%). Immunohistochemistry was negative for Herpesvirus. Statistical analysis revealed an association between nest and renal calculosis and between differences of the average temperature of July and August and the other considered years. The most significant lesions were present in the liver and kidneys. Vacuolar degeneration of the liver associated with increased melanomacrophages is indicative of a chronic inflammatory process probably due to toxicosis. The presence of calcium oxalate crystals in the kidney is believed to be linked to egg dehydration due to increased environmental average temperatures. Therefore it is supposed that the cause of the hatching failure was the dehydration of eggs and that the hepatic lesions were due to a chronic degenerative process associated with the vertical transmission of toxic substances.
2013
PATHOLOGY OF FREE‐LIVING LOGGERHEAD TURTLES (CARETTA CARETTA) EMBRYOS ON THE ISLAND OF ITALY (LINOSA) / Longato, E.; Scaglione, F. E.; Appino, Simonetta; Pilia, M.; Capobianco Dondona, A.; De Lucia, A.; Nannarelli, S.; Bollo, E.. - (2013). (Intervento presentato al convegno LXVII Convegno Nazionale S.I.S.Vet Società Italiana delle Scienze Veterinarie tenutosi a Brescia 2013).
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11388/54370
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