ABSTRACT: Spirorchidiasis is one of the most common diseases in green turtles. Eggs and the adult form of trematodes are mainly found in the heart, liver, lung, spleen, and gastrointestinal tract. The present study aimed to describe the pathological aspects of Spirorchiidae trematode infection in green turtles (Chelonia mydas) in the Campos Basin, Rio de Janeiro. The current study was based on the necropsy of 99 green turtles (Chelonia mydas, Chelonidae) from April to December 2021. Epidemiological data were obtained from the Aquatic Biota Monitoring Information System (SIMBA). A histopathological examination was performed at the “Setor de Anatomia Patológica” (SAP) from “Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro” (UFRuralRJ). Tissue fragments (buccal papilla, esophagus, trachea, lung, heart, kidney, bladder, stomach, liver, spleen, intestines, gonads, adrenal, thyroid, pancreas, salt glands, muscle, and skin) were sampled for histological examination. The green turtles had lesions compatible with parasitic infection in 89% (88/99) cases. Out of 88 turtles, 87 were juveniles (99%), 75% (66/88) were females, and 25% (22/88) were males. Adult parasites and their eggs were found to cause granulomatous tissue reactions in 14% (12/88) of turtles. Egg-associated granulomatous inflammation was found in 86% (76/88) of the turtles. The organs with the highest number of egg-associated granulomas in order of occurrence were: the spleen, small intestine, adrenal gland, pancreas, and lungs. The adult trematodes were observed in histological lesions in order of occurrence, mainly in the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine. Out of the total number of turtles parasitized, 33% (29/88) of deaths occurred due to multiple causes such as fractures, interaction with fishing, predation, and fibropapillomas. The other 67% (59/88) presented multisystemic granulomatous disease caused by Spirorchiidae infection as a cause of death. Evidence is presented that spirorchidiasis is highly prevalent in young green turtles, is responsible for extensive chronic lesions, and responsible for significant debilitation and mortality. ABSTRACT heart liver lung spleen tract Chelonia mydas Basin Janeiro 9 Chelonidae 2021 SIMBA. SIMBA . (SIMBA) Setor Patológica SAP (SAP Universidade UFRuralRJ. UFRuralRJ (UFRuralRJ) buccal papilla esophagus trachea kidney bladder stomach intestines gonads thyroid pancreas glands muscle skin 89 88/99 8899 (88/99 cases 8 99%, 99% , (99%) 75 66/88 6688 66 (66/88 females 25 22/88 2288 22 (22/88 males 14 12/88 1288 12 (12/88 Eggassociated Egg associated 86 76/88 7688 76 (76/88 eggassociated egg intestine gland lungs parasitized 33 29/88 2988 29 (29/88 fractures fishing predation fibropapillomas 67 59/88 5988 59 (59/88 death mortality 202 (SIMBA (UFRuralRJ 88/9 889 (88/9 (99% 7 66/8 668 6 (66/8 2 22/8 228 (22/8 1 12/8 128 (12/8 76/8 768 (76/8 3 29/8 298 (29/8 59/8 598 5 (59/8 20 88/ (88/ (99 66/ (66/ 22/ (22/ 12/ (12/ 76/ (76/ 29/ (29/ 59/ (59/ (88 (9 (66 (22 (12 (76 (29 (59 (8 ( (6 (2 (1 (7 (5

RESUMO: A espirorquidíase é uma das doenças mais comuns em tartarugas verdes. Os ovos e a forma adulta dos trematódeos são encontrados principalmente no coração, fígado, pulmão, baço e trato gastrointestinal. O objetivo do presente estudo foi descrever os aspectos patológicos da infecção por trematódeos Spirorchiidae em tartarugas verdes (Chelonia mydas) na Bacia de Campos, Rio de Janeiro. O presente trabalho foi baseado na necropsia de 99 tartarugas verdes (Chelonia mydas, Chelonidae) no período de abril a dezembro de 2021. Os dados epidemiológicos foram obtidos do Sistema de Informação de Monitoramento da Biota Aquática (SIMBA). Realizou-se exame histopatológico no Setor de anatomia Patológica (SAP) da Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro (UFRuralRJ). Os fragmentos de tecidos (papila bucal, esôfago, traqueia, pulmão, coração, rim, bexiga, estômago, fígado, baço, intestinos, gônadas, adrenal, tireoides, pâncreas, glândulas de sal, músculo e pele) foram coletados e fixados em formalina a 10% tamponada, processados rotineiramente para exame histológico. Em 89% (88/99) dos casos, as tartarugas-verdes apresentaram lesões compatíveis com infecção parasitária. Das 88 tartarugas, 87 eram jovens (99%), 75% (66/88) correspondiam a fêmeas, 25% (22/88) a machos. Em 14% (12/88) das tartarugas foram encontrados parasitas adultos e seus ovos causando inflamação granulomatosa. Em 86,4% (76/88) das tartarugas foram encontradas lesões granulomatosas associadas aos ovos dos trematódeos. Os órgãos com maior quantidade de granulomas associados a ovos foram: baço, intestino delgado, adrenal, pâncreas e pulmões. Trematódeos adultos foram principalmente observados nas lesões histológicas, em ordem de ocorrência, no esôfago, estômago e intestino delgado. Do total de tartarugas parasitadas, 33% (29/88) das mortes ocorreram em consequência de múltiplas causas como fraturas, interação com pesca, predação e fibropapilomas. As outras 67% (59/88) apresentaram como causa de morte a doença granulomatosa multissistêmica causada pela infecção por trematódeo da família Spirorchiidae. São apresentadas evidências de que a espiroquidiase é altamente prevalente em tartarugas verdes jovens no Rio de Janeiro, responsável por extensas lesões crônicas, quadro clínico de debilidade e mortalidade significativas. RESUMO coração fígado pulmão gastrointestinal Chelonia mydas Campos 9 Chelonidae 2021 SIMBA. SIMBA . (SIMBA) Realizouse Realizou se SAP (SAP UFRuralRJ. UFRuralRJ (UFRuralRJ) papila bucal esôfago traqueia rim bexiga intestinos gônadas adrenal tireoides sal pele 10 tamponada histológico 89 88/99 8899 (88/99 casos tartarugasverdes parasitária 8 99%, 99% , (99%) 75 66/88 6688 66 (66/88 fêmeas 25 22/88 2288 22 (22/88 machos 14 12/88 1288 12 (12/88 864 86 4 86,4 76/88 7688 76 (76/88 delgado pulmões histológicas ocorrência parasitadas 33 29/88 2988 29 (29/88 fraturas pesca fibropapilomas 67 59/88 5988 59 (59/88 crônicas significativas 202 (SIMBA (UFRuralRJ 1 88/9 889 (88/9 (99% 7 66/8 668 6 (66/8 2 22/8 228 (22/8 12/8 128 (12/8 86, 76/8 768 (76/8 3 29/8 298 (29/8 59/8 598 5 (59/8 20 88/ (88/ (99 66/ (66/ 22/ (22/ 12/ (12/ 76/ (76/ 29/ (29/ 59/ (59/ (88 (9 (66 (22 (12 (76 (29 (59 (8 ( (6 (2 (1 (7 (5

Resumen Introducción: Para incrementar el número de crías de tortugas marinas, es necesario mejorar estrategias de conservación, como incubación de nidos, en condiciones de vivero que contrarresten los efectos de las condiciones climáticas extremas. Objetivo: Comparar cinco parámetros de éxito reproductivo (éxito de eclosión, huevos sin desarrollo aparente, crías muertas, mortalidad embrionaria y período de incubación) de la tortuga marina Lepidochelys olivacea. Métodos: Se evaluó la incubación de nidos bajo dos períodos de reubicación de nidos (P1 ~28.8 °C agosto-septiembre y P2 ~27.1 °C octubre-noviembre, temperatura ambiental promedio, bajo condiciones de vivero, en el 2018 en Guerrero, México. Resultados: Se encontraron diferencias significativas en el éxito de eclosión y la mortalidad embrionaria entre los períodos de reubicación de nidos (P < 0.001). En P1, se observaron valores más bajos de éxito de eclosión (77.0 % P1 vs 88.6 % P2) y valores más altos de mortalidad embrionaria (13.7 % P1 vs 3.3 % P2) comparados con los de P2. Es importante señalar que, en el presente estudio la mortalidad embrionaria se presentó en una etapa tardía de desarrollo, es decir, en embriones casi completamente desarrollados. No se encontraron diferencias entre periodos respecto a los parámetros de huevos sin desarrollo aparente, crías muertas y período de incubación. Conclusiones: Las diferencias entre las condiciones ambientales durante el primer período de reubicación de nidos en comparación con el segundo período parecen afectar el éxito de eclosión y mortalidad embrionaria de L. olivacea. Por lo tanto, es importante tomar medidas al respecto durante esta etapa de incubación para tratar de mejorar la incubación de nidos bajo condiciones de vivero.

Abstract Introduction: In order to increase the number of sea turtle hatchlings, it is necessary to improve conservation strategies, such as nest incubation in hatchery conditions that counteract the effects of extreme climatic conditions. Objective: To compare five reproductive success parameters (hatching success, eggs with no apparent embryonic development, dead hatchlings, embryonic mortality, and incubation period) of the sea turtle Lepidochelys olivacea. Methods: The incubation of nests was evaluated under two periods of nest relocation, P1 ~28.8 °C (August and September) and P2 ~27.1 °C (October and November), average ambient temperature, under hatchery condition, in 2018 in Guerrero, Mexico. Results: Significant differences were found in hatching success and embryonic mortality between nest relocation periods (P < 0.001). In P1, lower values of hatching success (77.0 % P1 vs 88.6 % P2) and higher values of embryonic mortality (13.7 % P1 vs 3.3 % P2) were observed compared to those of P2. It’s important pointing that, in the present study, embryonic mortality occurred at a late stage of development, that is, in almost fully developed embryos. No differences were found between periods regarding the parameters eggs with no apparent embryonic development, dead hatchlings and incubation period. Conclusions: The differences between the environmental conditions during the first period of nest relocation compared to the second period, respectively, seem to affect the hatching success and embryonic mortality of L. olivacea. Therefore, it is important to take action on this issue during this incubation stage to try to improve the incubation of nests under hatchery conditions.

ABSTRACT Following classical literature in herpetology, we built two five-stage life tables for the endangered hawksbill sea turtle Eretmochelys imbricata in the Gulf of Paria, eastern Venezuela, using data from incidental captures by industrial trawl fisheries from 1991 until 2000, artisanal fisheries effect and regional stranding from 1999 to 2017, and a local conservation project with the nesting females from 2003 to 2018. We estimated the survivorship for the managed, translocated nests, and a portion of the natural in situ nests (≈31%). We used the resultant life graph and matrices to estimate the hawksbills population status in the region and determine differences in population growth rate and elasticity between translocated and in situ nests. Eggs/hatchlings (stage 1) and small juveniles of less than three years old (stage 2), had high mortalities. We controlled stage 1 mortality by translocating nests into a hatchery. The in situ nests suffered almost 88% predation or poaching. Conversely, these non-translocated nests' emergence success was greater than that of managed nests, but overall survivorship was the lower. We propose that fecundity could begin with sub-adults (stage 4) after the 7th year with 60 cm of curved carapace length. Finite rates of increase of both populations, managed and natural, were significantly higher than 1, and that of the managed population is significantly higher than that of the natural one, meaning that both populations would grow and that the managed one would grow faster than the natural one. Then protection of stage 1 is essential to the population of hawksbills in the region, although uncertainties of survivorship of stage 2 and fecundity of stage 4 were not properly confirmed locally. Notwithstanding, elasticity analysis indicated that the population growth rate was more affected by proportional changes in sub-adults and adults' fecundity than any other life-history element.

ABSTRACT Two mass stranding events of loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) in the vicinity of the Gulf of Ulloa, Baja California Sur, Mexico, were analyzed during 2003-2006 and 2012-2014. Stranding events were related to the accumulation of consecutive days with lower sea surface temperature (SST) series for the corresponding periods using Pearson correlations. Our results showed that in both periods, a significant cross-correlation was observed between mass stranding and accumulation of consecutive days with temperatures below 18, 17, and 16°C, with a time lag of three to five months. Numerical evidence supports the hypothesis that although the loggerhead turtle mortality is caused by multiple factors under extreme cold events, the environment turns markedly unfavorable for these organisms. Side-effects on health and swimming behavior of the species C. caretta, compromise their ability to avoid obstacles or flee from predators, thus increasing their vulnerability to sickness or lethargy, and possibly leading to the massive stranding of weakened individuals or dead bodies to the beaches of the Gulf of Ulloa. Hence, while SST may not be the direct cause of turtle mortality, it can be a determining factor for the survival of this species.

Gillnets are recognized globally as one of the fishing gears with the highest levels of bycatch and mortality of sea turtles. Through onboard observer monitoring from July 2013 to June 2014 we assessed the bycatch of sea turtles by an artisanal gillnet fishery operating from Sechura Bay, Peru. One hundred and four sea turtles were incidentally caught in 53 observed fishing sets. The observed species composition of bycatch was green turtle Chelonia mydas (n = 100), hawksbill Eretmochelys imbricata (n = 3) and olive ridley Lepidochelys olivacea (n = 1). Bycatch occurred in 62.3% of monitored sets, with an average of 1.96 turtles caught per set. For all sea turtles combined, 28.8% of individuals were dead and 71.2% were alive at the time of retrieval. The majority of individuals caught were classified as juveniles and sub-adults, with an average carapace length (CCL) of 57.3 ± 0.9 cm for green turtles and 40.2 ± 2.4 cm for hawksbills. The mean annual catch per unit effort (CPUE) of sea turtles was 1.11 ± 0.31 turtles km-1 12 h-1), but varied by seasons. These results suggest that Sechura Bay is an important developmental habitat for juvenile and sub-adult green turtles and hawksbill turtles, but one subject to intense fishing interaction pressure. The development of monitoring programs, local awareness-raising activities, and enhanced management and protection of this critical foraging area and developmental habitat is recommended.

The Pisco-San Andres area (13°44'S, 76°13'W) in central Peru is known for a traditional historic sea turtle fishery. To determine if illegal captures and black market trade exist, we carried out bi-weekly sampling in dumpsites and coastal areas from 2009 to 2015. A total of 953 carapaces were encountered, which included mainly black turtles (Chelonia mydas, 92.2%) and to a lesser extent, olive ridley turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea, 4.3%), leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea, 1.4%), and a single hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricate, 0.1%). The mean curved carapace length (CCL) was 59.1 for black turtles, 60.4 for olive ridleys and 113 cm for leatherbacks. For all species, most of turtles reported were juveniles and came largely from illegal captures (89%) and not from stranding reports (1.4%). Mean mortality was 8.1 carcasses km-1 year-1 at beaches and 160.2 carcasses year-1 at dumpsites. Main consumed prey items in black turtles were silverside fish eggs (47.9%), Chondracanthus seaweed (31.4%) and Paranthus sp., anemone (16.2%). Despite the big sampling effort, mortality estimates could be underestimated since big percentages are butchered and discarded at sea. Still, numbers remains high with almost 1000 turtles in a five-year period and an illegal trade persists. Urgent measures are needed to recover this endangered species.

Resumen El Golfo Dulce es uno de los pocos fiordos tropicales del mundo, y recientemente ha sido declarado como un Área Marina de Pesca Responsable (AMPR), albergando ecosistemas de manglar, corales y pastos marinos que son áreas de alimentación importantes para la tortuga verde (Chelonia mydas). En este estudio estimamos la captura por unidad de esfuerzo (CPUE) y la estructura de la población, en un sitio del sector oeste del Golfo Dulce. Entre agosto de 2010 y marzo de 2013, se capturaron un total de 253 tortugas verdes (incluyendo 20 recapturas) utilizando redes de enmalle. La CPUE anual (CPUE, 1 unidad: 100m de red por 7h) durante el estudio osciló entre 0.19 y 0.45, reduciéndose progresivamente a través de los años, posiblemente propiciado por una mortalidad masiva ocurrida en enero de 2013. Se encontró que la estacionalidad y la temporalidad influyen en la CPUE de acuerdo al modelo de mejor ajuste. Cerca del 78.17% de las tortugas capturadas fueron consideradas como adultas, con un promedio de largo curvo de caparazón (LCC) de 79.6±0.9cm. Se recapturó una hembra que había sido previamente marcada en el Archipiélago de Galápagos. Mientras que ninguna de las tortugas marcadas en el Golfo Dulce fue reportada anidando en alguna playa. Nuestros resultados sugieren que el Golfo Dulce es un área importante para la tortuga verde, en donde se congregan individuos adultos o subadultos para alimentase de los pastos marinos y las partes carnosas de los mangles. Asimismo, el área representa un gran reto para la conservación internacional, ya que posiblemente las hembras adultas que capturamos provienen de playas de anidación de Panamá y Colombia, lo que requiere de acuerdos multilaterales que propicien la recuperación de la tortuga verde del Pacífico Este. Sugerimos la continuación de este proyecto de conservación para utilizar a las tortugas marinas como especie sombrilla para la protección de los ecosistemas del Golfo Dulce.

Abstract The Golfo Dulce is one of the few tropical fjords in the world, and has recently been declared a Marine Area for Responsible Fisheries (AMPR), harboring mangrove ecosystems, coral reefs and seagrass beds, which are important feeding areas for green turtles (Chelonia mydas). In this study we estimate the catch per unit effort (CPUE) and population structure in a site in the western sector of the Golfo Dulce. Between August 2010 and March 2013, were captured a total of 253 green turtles (including 20 recaptures) using entanglement nets. The annual CPUE (CPUE, 1 unit: 100m of net for 7h) during the study ranged between 0.19 and 0.45, decreasing gradually over the years, possibly prompted by mass mortality occurred in January 2013. We found that seasonality and temporality influence the CPUE according to the best-fit model. About 78.17% were considered adult females, with an average length of curved carapace (LCC) of 79.6±0.9cm. The female recaptured has been tagged previously in the Galapagos Archipelago. While none of the turtles tagged in the Golfo Dulce was reported nesting on any other beach. Our results suggest that the Golfo Dulce is an important area for green turtles, where individuals congregate for adults and subadults would feed on seagrasses and the fleshy parts of the mangroves. The area also represents a major challenge for international conservation, possibly because we captured adult females from nesting beaches of Panama and Colombia, which requires multilateral agreements that promote the recovery of the East Pacific green turtle. We suggest the continuation of this conservation project to use sea turtles as umbrella species to protect ecosystems in the Golfo Dulce. Rev. Biol. Trop. 63 (Suppl. 1): 363-373. Epub 2015 April 01.

Se analizaron los contenidos de cuatro nidos de tortugas cardón (Dermochelys coriacea) que desovaron en playa San Luis, sector Los Chivos, Cumaná, estado Sucre. Las tortugas desovaron un total de 312 huevos (<img border=0 width=14 height=13 src="http://img/fbpe/saber/v26n3/art03ima.gif" > o = 78 por nido), de los cuales 102 huevos no presentaron desarrollo aparente (<img border=0 width=14 height=13 src="http://img/fbpe/saber/v26n3/art03ima.gif" > o = 25,50), 13 con embriones muertos (<img border=0 width=14 height=13 src="http://img/fbpe/saber/v26n3/art03ima.gif" > o = 3,25) y 155 huevos tipos coral (no fecundados) (<img border=0 width=14 height=13 src="http://img/fbpe/saber/v26n3/art03ima.gif" > o = 38,75). De los embriones muertos (13), el 84,62% habían alcanzado el estado embrionario tardío (EETT) y el resto al estado medio (EEM). El promedio del éxito de eclosión total fue de 65,94% con un valor mínimo en una tortuga que colocó 77 huevos por nido (nido 1: 46,75%) y el máximo 91,17% con otra que colocó 72 huevos (nido 2). Se observó una alta relación entre el número de huevos sin desarrollo aparente (HSDA) y los corales, así mismo una relación altamente significativa (r = 0,97) entre el peso y el largo curvo del caparazón en los embriones.

We analyzed the reproductive characteristics of four nets of leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) which spawned in San Luis beach, sector Los Chivos, Cumaná, Sucre State. The turtles deposited a total of 312 eggs (<img border=0 width=14 height=13 src="http://img/fbpe/saber/v26n3/art03ima.gif" > or = 78 per nest), of which 102 eggs showed no apparent development (<img border=0 width=14 height=13 src="http://img/fbpe/saber/v26n3/art03ima.gif" > or = 25.50), 13 were dead embryos (<img border=0 width=14 height=13 src="http://img/fbpe/saber/v26n3/art03ima.gif" > or = 3.25) and 155 were coral type eggs (without fecundation) (<img border=0 width=14 height=13 src="http://img/fbpe/saber/v26n3/art03ima.gif" > or = 38.75). Among the dead embryos (13), 84.62% had reached the late embryonic state (EETT) and the rest the medium state (EEM). The average hatching success was 65.94%, with a minimum value in a turtle that laid 77 eggs (46.75 %) and the maximum (91.17 %) in another who laid 72 eggs. There was a high correlation between the number of eggs without apparent development (HSDA) and corals, with a highly significant relationship (r = 0.97) between weight and curved carapace length in embryos.

La tortuga del Río Magdalena, Podocnemis lewyana, es una tortuga categorizada como amenazada y además endémica colombiana. Dentro de la información más necesaria para entender el estado de conservación de estas especies está el identificar, monitorear y proteger sus sitios de reproducción y crecimiento. En este estudio se reporta, por primera vez, el potencial reproductivo y las principales playas de anidación de P. lewyana en el río Claro Cocorná Sur, un tributario del río Magdalena. Un trayecto de 8 km del río que albergaba 14 playas arenosas fueron monitoreados sistemáticamente durante dos estaciones de anidación en un año. Durante este tiempo se registraron 47 nidos, 957 huevos y dos playas de mayor anidación: Alto Bonito con el 51 %, y Bélgica con el 28,3 % de dicha producción anual. AAFUVER, una organización de la comunidad local, ha liderado un programa de reforzamiento poblacional para disminuir la mortalidad de los huevos incubados in-situ. AAFUVER colecta e incuba los huevos ex-situ, cría los neonatos durante uno a cinco meses, y los libera en el río de origen. Para entender los efectos potenciales de esta manipulación de los huevos las temperaturas de incubación in-situ y ex-situ fueron monitoreadas y comparadas. Se encontró que las temperaturas ex-situ son inferiores a la temperatura pivotal de P. lewyana y a las temperaturas en las playas de anidación. Finalmente, se reporta el crecimiento corporal de los tortuguillos dadas las condiciones de cautiverio de AAFUVER. Se encontró una fuerte asociación entre el peso del huevo y el peso de los neonatos a los siete días de edad, sin embargo esta asociación se perdió a los tres meses de edad. Nosotros enfatizamos en la importancia de apoyar este programa de conservación liderado por la comunidad local, y la protección del Río Claro Cocorná Sur como un hábitat importante de anidación y crecimiento de P. lewyana.

The Magdalena River Turtle, Podocnemis lewyana, is an endangered and endemic turtle from Colombia. Among the most important information needed to conserve endangered species is to identify, monitor, and protect the sites used by the species to reproduce and grow. In this study we report, for the first time, the reproductive output and the nesting beaches of P. lewyana in the Claro Cocorná Sur River, a tributary of the Magdalena River drainage. We systematically examined a river transect of 8 km with 14 sandy beaches during two nesting seasons in one year. We recorded a yearly production of 47 clutches, 957 eggs, and two preferred nesting beaches: Alto Bonito with 51 %, and Bélgica with 28.3 % of this reproductive output. AAFUVER, a community-based organization, has led a headstarting program since 2010 to decrease in-situ egg mortality due to predation on nesting beaches. AAFUVER collects and incubates the eggs ex-situ, raises the hatchlings for one to five months and then releases them into the same river. To understand potential effects of such egg manipulation, we monitored and compared in-situ and ex-situ incubation temperatures. We found ex-situ temperatures below the pivotal temperature known for P. lewyana and below the temperatures in nesting beaches. Finally, we monitored hatchlings growth under AAFUVER captive conditions, and found that hatchlings duplicated their body mass during the first three months of age. Egg weight was strongly associated to body weight at hatching, however this association is lost by the third month of age. We strongly encourage supporting this community-based conservation program, and the protection of the Claro Cocorná Sur River as an important nesting and growth habitat for the conservation of P. lewyana.

Este estudo analisou encalhes de tartarugas marinhas na costa do Estado da Paraíba, Nordeste do Brasil, de agosto de 2009 a julho de 2010. Neste período, 124 encalhes foram registrados: tartaruga-verde Chelonia mydas (n = 106), tartaruga-de-pente Eretmochelys imbricata (n = 15), tartaruga-oliva Lepidochelys olivacea (n = 2) e cabeçuda Caretta caretta (n = 1). Dentre todas as tartarugas que tiveram o Comprimento Curvilíneo da Carapaça (CCC) medido (n = 122), apenas 12 indivíduos (9,7%) foram considerados adultos. Vinte indivíduos tinham detritos antropogênicos sintéticos no trato gastrointestinal. Em 43 indivíduos, outros vestígios de interações humanas foram observados, tais como lesões causadas por emaranhamento em linhas ou redes de pesca, colisões com embarcações, contato direto com derramamentos de óleo e lesões causadas por objetos perfurocortantes. Além disso, em 28,5% das tartarugas encalhadas, foi observada a presença de tumores externos sugestivos de fibropapilomatose e em 9,7%, foram observadas marcas de mordidas de tubarão. Dos 107 indivíduos sexados, 76 eram fêmeas e 31 eram machos. A maioria das tartarugas (72,6%) encalhou durante a primavera/verão (entre outubro e março). Foram encontrados sinais de interações humanas (lesões) em metade dos encalhes, mas na maioria dos casos, não foi possível determinar se tais interações foram a causa da morte. A regressão logística encontrou uma relação significativa entre CCC e ingestão de detritos, lesões causadas por objetos perfuro-cortantes e ataques de tubarões. A coleta sistemática de dados de tartarugas marinhas encalhadas pode fornecer informações biológicas úteis, tais como padrões sazonais e espaciais na sua ocorrência e mortalidade, estrutura etária, razão sexual, dieta, bem como possíveis causas de mortalidade.

This study analysed sea turtle strandings on the coast of Paraíba State, Northeastern Brazil, from August 2009 to July 2010. A total of 124 strandings were recorded in this period: green turtle Chelonia mydas (n = 106), hawksbill Eretmochelys imbricata (n = 15), olive ridley Lepidochelys olivacea (n = 2) and loggerhead Caretta caretta (n = 1). Of all turtles for which the Curved Carapace Length (CCL) was measured (n = 122), only 12 individuals (9.7%) were adults. Twenty individuals had synthetic anthropogenic debris in the gastrointestinal tract. Other traces of human interactions were observed in 43 individuals, such as injuries caused by entanglement in fishing lines or nets, collisions with vessels, direct contact with oil spills and lesions caused by sharp or spiked objects. Moreover, in 28.5% of the stranded turtles, the presence of external tumors was noticed, suggestive of fibropapillomatosis and in 9.7%, shark bite marks were observed. Of the 107 individuals that were sexed, 76 were females and 31 were males. Most turtles (72.6%) became stranded during the spring/summer (between October and March). We found evidence of human interactions (injuries) in half of the strandings, but in most cases it was not possible to determine if such interactions were the cause of death. A logistic regression found a significant relationship between CCL, ingestion of debris and lesions caused by sharks or spiked objects. Systematic data collection from stranded sea turtles can provide useful biological information, such as seasonal and spatial patterns in their occurrence and mortality, age structure, sex ratio and diet, as well as possible mortality causes.

Kemp's Ridley turtle (Lepidochelys kempii) is considered as critically endangered by Mexican laws and by several international organizations. One of the main dangers is the indiscriminate capture and destruction of nests by humans, and a second source of mortality are viral, as well as bacterial or fungal infections. This study took place in the conservation area "Campamento tortuguero Ejido Barra Galindo", Tuxpan, Veracruz. Samples were obtained from nesting females, hatchlings, and nests. In total 14 bacterial species were identified, 10Gram negative and four Gram positive. The species identified were: Aeromonas hydrophila, Bacillus sp., Citrobacter sp., Edwardsiella sp., Enterobacter sp., Escherichia coli, Flavobacterium sp., Mycobacterium sp., Proteussp., Pseudomonas sp., Salmonella sp., Staphylococcus sp., Streptococcus aureus and Vibrio alginolyticus. The four more frequent were: Edwardsiella sp., Escherichiacoli, Salmonella sp. and Vibrio alginolyticus. This type of studies may allow an understanding of the role played by microorganisms in infectious diseases of marine turtles and how they may affect the survival of natural populations of these animals under natural conditions.

La tortuga lora (Lepidochelyskempii) es una especie considerada en peligro de extinción por las leyes mexicanas y por varios organismos internacionales. Una de las principales amenazas a la existencia de este quelonio, es su captura indiscriminada y la destrucción de sus nidos por parte de los seres humanos. Un peligro adicional son los agentes etiológicos virales, bacterianos o micóticos. El presente estudio se llevó a cabo en el área de conservación "Campamento tortuguero Ejido Barra Galindo", Tuxpan, Veracruz. Se tomaron muestras de hembras anidadoras, de crías y de los nidos. En total se obtuvieron 14 especies de bacterias, de las cuales 10 fueron Gram negativas y cuatro Gram positivas. Las especies identificadas fueron: Aeromonas hydrophila, Bacillus sp., Citrobactersp., Edwardsiella sp., Enterobacter sp., Escherichia coli, Flavobacterium sp., Mycobacterium sp., Proteus sp., Pseudomonas sp., Salmonella sp., Staphylococcus sp., Streptococcus aureus y Vibrio alginolyticus. Las cuatro bacterias más frecuentes fueron: Edwardsiella sp., Escherichia coli., Salmonella sp. y Vibrio alginolyticus. Este tipo de estudios permitirá conocer el papel que juegan las bacterias patógenas en las enfermedades infecciosas de las tortugas marinas y cómo estas afectan la sobrevivencia de sus poblaciones en condiciones naturales.

The incidental capture of sea turtles by industrial shrimp trawlers off eastern Venezuela is documented, based on data gathered by on-board observers from February 1991 through November 2000. A total of 275 trips were made, with a total of 55,992 h of trawling using either one or two normal nets of 20-m headrope length, equivalent to 59,744 h std. net-1 of 30.5 m upper rope length. In total, 63 turtles were captured: 20 Eretmochelys imbricata, 20 Chelonia mydas, 15 Caretta caretta, and 8 Dermochelys coriácea. All these species showed a wide distribution along the central Caribbean Sea and Atlantic coasts of Venezuela, but they were always caught in areas close to shore and not deeper than 82 m; the distribution of D. coriacea was more concentrated towards the Atlantic zone. The estimated CPUE for all four species, using non-standardized effort values, was 0.0011 ± 0.0003 turtles h-1 std. net, equivalent to one turtle per 930 ± 11 h std. net. The variation in captures throughout the year was not significant (χ2 = 1.29; P = 0.73), except for D. coriacea, which was only caught between January and May. No significant difference was observed between the capture of turtles during the day or night. Direct mortality ratio reached 19 ± 9.7%; the actual ratio of mortality caused by incidental capture is not known. Most individuals caught by Venezuelan trawlers were juveniles that most probably use the area as feeding grounds. Considering an average effort by the fleet of 310,000 ± 16,500 h std. net yr-1, an estimate of turtle capture before the use of turtle excluder devices was made mandatory in 1994 would be about 330 ± 4 ind yr-1, with an associated direct mortality of 63 ± 30 turtles. This capture rate would be the lowest among the countries where similar evaluations have been performed (Australia, Colombia, Costa Rica, and USA).

La captura incidental de tortugas marinas por parte de la flota industrial de arrastre camaronera en el noreste de Venezuela se documenta, basada en datos recogidos por observadores a bordo desde febrero de 1991 hasta noviembre de 2000. Se realizaron 275 viajes, que totalizaron 55,992 h de arrastre, ya fuera con una o dos redes de 20 m de relinga superior, lo cual equivale a 59,744 h red estd.-1 de 30.5 m de longitud de relinga superior. En total se capturaron 63 tortugas: 20 Eretmochelys imbricata, 20 Chelonia mydas, 15 Caretta caretta y 8 Dermochelys coriacea. Todas las especies mostraron una distribución amplia entre la costa central del Mar Caribe y la costa Atlántica de Venezuela, pero siempre fueron capturadas en áreas cercanas a la costa y no más profundas de 82 m; D. coriacea tuvo una distribución más concentrada hacia la región Atlántica del país. La CPUE estimada para las cuatro especies, utilizando valores no estandarizados de esfuerzo, fue 0.0011 ± 0.0003 tortugas h-1 red estd., lo que sería equivalente a una tortuga por cada 930 ± 11 h de arrastre con red estandár. La variación en las capturas a lo largo del año no fue significativa (χ² = 1.29; P = 0.73), excepto para D. coriacea, la cual solamente fue capturada entre enero y mayo. No se observó diferencia significativa en la captura de tortugas de día o de noche. La razón de mortalidad directa alcanzó 19 ± 9.7%, desconociéndose la razón real de mortalidad causada por las capturas incidentales. La mayoría de los ejemplares capturados por arrastreros venezolanos fueron juveniles que probablemente usan el área como sitio de alimentación. Considerando un esfuerzo total promedio por la flota de 310,000 h ± 16,500 red estd. año-1, un estimado de la captura general de tortugas, antes de que el uso del dispositivo excluidor de tortugas de las redes se hiciera obligatorio en 1994, sería 330 ± 4 individuos por año, con una mortalidad directa asociada de 63 ± 30 tortugas. Esta tasa de captura sería la más baja entre los países donde se han efectuado evaluaciones similares (Australia, Colombia, Costa Rica y EUA).

The purpose of this work was to report the causes of mortality of eleven Olive Ridley Turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) that arrived to the shore of Cuyutlan, Colima, Mexico, in a critical health condition between the months of June and September of 2006. The signs presented were: inability to swim, weakness, loss of weight, sunken eyes, lethargy and mesh lesions in fins and shell. The necropsy was carried out. Representative lesion samples were collected from the main organs and they were fixed in 10% buffered formalin pH 7.2 using the histological technique and the hematoxylin-eosine tint. The results were: six cases (60%) presented multifocal hepatic haemochromatosis, three (30%) presented multifocal non supurative myocarditis, two (20%), multifocal granulomatous nephritis associated with Paecilomyces sp with calcification. Intestinal lymphangiectasia and heterophilic diffuse perihepatitis. Other pathologies included: one case (10%) presented cutaneous fibropapil lomas, bacterial necrotic ulcerative dermatitis; one more presented multifocal granulomatous pneumonia associated with Paecilomyces sp; in three cases, intestinal trematode (Adenogaster serialis); in fi ve epibiontes (Chelonibia testudinaria) in fins; and in one, a blood parasite (Toddia sp). The findings of these diseases will permit to propose preventive medicine with the aim to preserve marine turtles in Mexico..

El objetivo del trabajo fue informar las causas de mortalidad de once tortugas marinas Golfinas (Lepidochelys olivacea), que arribaron moribundas entre junio y septiembre de 2006 a las playas de Cuyutlán, Colima, México. Los signos que presentaron fueron: inhabilidad para nadar, debilidad, pérdida de peso, ojos hundidos, letargia, lesiones en aletas y caparazón por enmallamiento. Después de que las tortugas murieron, se procedió a realizar la necropsia. Se tomaron muestras representativas de las lesiones de los principales órganos y se colocaron en formalina amortiguada al 10% pH 7.2 para su fijación. Las muestras fueron procesadas por la técnica histológica de rutina y se tiñeron con hematoxilina-eosina. Los resultados fueron: en seis casos (60%) se presentó hemocromatosis multifocal hepática; en tres (30%), miocarditis multifocal no supurativa; en dos (20%), nefritis multifocal granulomatosa asociada con Paecilomyces sp, con calcificación, linfangiectasia intestinal y perihepatitis difusa heterofílica. Otras patologías incluyeron en un caso fibropapiloma cutáneo (10%); en otro dermatitis ulcerativa necrótica bacteriana; en uno más, neumonía multifocal granulomatosa, asociada con Paecilomyces sp; en tres, trematodos intestinales Adenogaster serialis; en cinco, epibiontes (Chelonibia testudinaria) en aletas; y en uno, hemoparásito intraeritrocítico (Toddia sp). El conocimiento de estas enfermedades permitirá proponer medidas curativas o de medicina preventiva con el fin de conservar las tortugas marinas en México.

From 1987 to 2000, great embryo and hatchling mortality (>70%) of sea turtles (Lepidochelys) has been reported in the nesting beach La Escobilla, Oaxaca, México. The embryo death in this beach was attributed by some authors mainly to the egg predation by a beetle belonging to the family Trogidae. Taxonomic examination confirmed that the beetle at La Escobilla was Omorgus suberosus Fabricius. This species has been also reported in some other nesting beaches of the Pacific, but in none of the Atlantic Ocean. The present paper, based on the literature published about both Omorgus and marine turtles (Lepidochelys), describes the interaction between Omorgus and sea turtles, and discusses the predatory role of Omorgus suberosus. Based in our research, there was insufficient evidence to point O. suberosus as a predator especialist in turtle eggs; the beetle seems to be a highly efficient and facultative necrophagous-saprophagous organism.

Desde 1987 a 2000 se ha reportado gran mortalidad (>70%) de tortugas marinas del género Lepidochelys en la playa La Escobilla, en Oaxaca, México. Aunque la causa de tal mortalidad se debe a factores diversos, algunos autores la atribuyen mayormente a la depredación de embriones y crías que hace un escarabajo de la familia Trogidae. La revisión taxonómica confirmó que el escarabajo presente en La Escobilla es Omorgus suberosus Fabricius. Este escarabajo habita también otras playas de anidación de tortugas marinas del Pacífico, pero no del Atlántico. El presente trabajo, basado en la revisión y síntesis de la literatura publicada sobre el tema, describe la interacción Omorgus-tortugas marinas (Lepidochelys) y cuestiona el papel depredador de O. suberosus. No se encontró evidencia suficiente de que Omorgus sea un depredador especialista en embriones de tortugas marinas; por el contrario, parece ser un necrófago-saprófago facultativo muy eficiente en la remoción de materiales orgánicos en playas de anidación de tortugas marinas.