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Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 45(3), 2009, pp. 594-610
© Wildlife Disease Association  2009
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PATHOLOGIC AND PARASITOLOGIC FINDINGS OF COLD-STUNNED KEMP’S RIDLEY SEA TURTLES (LEPIDOCHELYS KEMPII) STRANDED ON CAPE COD, MASSACHUSETTS, 2001–2006

 Charles Innis1,7, Akinyi C. Nyaoke1,2, C. Rogers Williams, III3,4, Bridget Dunnigan3,5, Constance Merigo1, Denise L. Woodward2, E. Scott Weber1,6 and Salvatore Frasca, Jr.2

1 New England Aquarium, One Central Wharf, Boston, Massachusetts 02110, USA
2 Connecticut Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science, University of Connecticut, 61 North Eagleville Road, Storrs, Connecticut 06269-3089, USA
3 Woods Hole Science Aquarium, 166 Water Street, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, USA
7 Corresponding author (email: cinnis{at}neaq.org)

ABSTRACT:   Necropsy reports for 28 stranded, cold-stunned Kemp’s ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys kempii) that died between 2001 and 2006 were reviewed retrospectively. Gross and microscopic lesions were compiled to describe the pathologic and parasitologic findings in turtles that were found freshly dead on the beach or that died within 48 hr of stranding. Anatomic lesions of varying severity were identified in each of the examined turtles and were identified in tissues of the alimentary, respiratory, integumentary, nervous and sensory, and urogenital systems in order of decreasing frequency. Necrotizing enterocolitis and bacterial or fungal pneumonia were the most frequently encountered lesions that were considered clinically significant. Parasites and parasitic lesions were identified primarily in tissues of the alimentary system and included intestinal cestodiasis and parasitic granulomas containing larval cestodes or nematodes. Postlarval cestodes were also found in the coelom of two turtles. In many cases, the extent and severity of lesions were judged to be insufficient to have solely caused mortality, suggesting that additional factors such as metabolic, respiratory, and electrolyte derangements; hypothermia; and drowning may be important proximate causes of death in cold-stunned turtles. Results of this study provide insight into pathologic conditions that may be of clinical relevance to rehabilitation efforts for cold-stunned sea turtles.
  Key words:  Cold-stunned, Kemp’s ridley, Lepidochelys kempii, pathology, parasitology, sea turtle, stranding.

4 Current address: National Marine Life Center, 120 Main Street, Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts 02532-0269, USA

5 Current address: Vineyard Veterinary Clinic, Edgartown, Massachusetts 02539, USA

6 Current address: University of California, Davis, 2108 Tupper Hall, Davis, California 95616, USA






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