title: Pancreatitis associated with the helminth Serpinema microcephalus (Nematoda: Camallanidae) in exotic red-eared slider turtles (Trachemys scripta elegans).
abstract: Pancreatitis associated with the helminth Serpinema microcephalus was found in three of 19 free-ranging red-eared slider turtles (Trachemys scripta elegans) captured between March 2003 and September 2004 in southern Spain. Microscopic changes were associated with parasite migrations and were characterized by central areas of necrosis surrounded by leukocytes and resulted in destruction of exocrine tissue. The blood profile of one of the three female turtles revealed eosinophilia and hyperglycemia, common in helminth infections and pancreatic disorders respectively. These are the first reported cases of pancreatitis caused by the nematode S. microcephalus in the exotic and newly colonized host T. s. elegans.
authors.affiliation: Doñana Biological Station-CSIC, PO Box 1056, 41080 Seville, Spain. judit@mail.ebd.csic.es
authors.forename: Judit
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hidalgo-Vila
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martínez-Silvestre
authors.forename: Alexis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ribas
authors.forename: Joan Carles
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Casanova
authors.forename: Natividad
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pérez-Santigosa
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Díaz-Paniagua
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild / Q000469:parasitology; D056727:Endangered Species; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D017174:Spirurida; D017205:Spirurida Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D014426:Turtles / Q000469:parasitology*