Clinical and Pathological Findings in Green Turtles (Chelonia mydas) from Gladstone, Queensland: Investigations of a Stranding Epidemic

• Published in: EcoHealth Vol. 12; no. 2; pp. 298 - 309
• Main Authors: Flint, Mark, Eden, Paul A, Limpus, Colin J, Owen, Helen, Gaus, Caroline, Mills, Paul C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.06.2015; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animal diseases; Animal Ecology; Animal populations; Animals; Aquatic reptiles; Blood; blood sampling; body condition; cachexia; Chelonia mydas; Chronic Disease - epidemiology; Chronic Disease - mortality; clinical examination; Communicable Diseases - epidemiology; Communicable Diseases - mortality; Communicable Diseases - veterinary; Ecosystems; Environmental Health; Female; Gastroenteritis; Industrial areas; Industrial pollution; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Microbiology; mortality; necropsy; Original Contribution; Parasitism; Public Health; Queensland; Reptiles & amphibians; Severity of Illness Index; turtles; Turtles - microbiology; Water and Health; weather; Queensland; Queensland Australia; Australia; ISEW, Australia, Queensland; Australia, Queensland, Gladstone; mortality; health; green turtle; disease; reptile; gladstone
• ISSN: 1612-9202; 1612-9210; 1612-9210
• DOI: 10.1007/s10393-014-0972-5

An investigation into the health of green turtles was undertaken near Gladstone, Queensland, in response to a dramatic increase in stranding numbers in the first half of 2011. A total of 56 live turtles were subject to clinical examination and blood sampling for routine blood profiles, and 12 deceased turtles underwent a thorough necropsy examination. This population of green turtles was found to be in poor body condition and a range of infectious and non-infectious conditions were identified in the unhealthy turtles, including hepato-renal insufficiency (up to 81%, 27/33 based on clinical pathology), cachexia (92%, 11/12), parasitism (75%, 9/12), cardiopulmonary anomalies (42%, 5/12), gastroenteritis (25%, 3/12), masses (25%, 3/12) and mechanical impediments (17%, 2/12 based on necropsy). Overall, there was no evidence to indicate a unifying disease as a primary cause of the mass mortality. Recent adverse weather events, historic regional contamination and nearby industrial activities are discussed as potential causative factors.