Abstract

During the fall and winter of 2014–15, a number of small juvenile green sea turtles, Chelonia mydas, were found stranded in a five-county area (Martin County through Monroe County) of southeast Florida. Affected individuals were generally 20- to 25-cm straight carapace length and in good body condition, but most had neurological symptoms. Blood work showed very few major abnormalities. Some of the individuals showed hypoglycemia, while others were normoglycemic. Individuals that died were necropsied and histopathology performed. Consistent histopathological findings included enteric coccidiosis with associated enteritis and mucosal hyperplasia. Several of the individuals also had spirorchiid trematode infections involving various systems, including the brain. Fecal analysis for parasites revealed large numbers of Caryospora sp. oocysts in a number of the live, affected turtles, although not all. Samples from some of the cases have been analyzed for algal toxins, giving some interesting results. One of the affected turtles had very high concentrations of domoic acid in its feces, stomach contents, intestinal contents, and kidneys. Another had concentrations of saxitoxin in its feces that were too high to quantitate. Mortality at this point has been about 50%. This appears to be an ongoing event, and data will continue to be gathered.

* Presenting author