title: Diagnosis and management of Enterococcus spp infections during rehabilitation of cold-stunned Kemp's ridley turtles (Lepidochelys kempii): 50 cases (2006-2012).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate clinical data for cold-stunned Kemp's ridley turtles (Lepidochelys kempii) with Enterococcus spp infections during rehabilitation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  50 stranded cold-stunned Kemp's ridley turtles hospitalized between 2006 and 2012.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical records for turtles from which Enterococcus spp were isolated were reviewed retrospectively, and clinical data, including morphometric data, body temperature at admission, physical examination findings, antimicrobial medication history, history of medications administered IV, environmental data, day of diagnosis, clinical signs at diagnosis, microbiological testing results, sources of positive culture results, hematologic and plasma biochemical data, cytologic and histopathologic results, radiographic findings, antimicrobial treatments, time to first negative culture result, treatment duration, results of subsequent cultures, and case outcome, were collated and analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Enterococcus spp were isolated from bacteriologic cultures of blood, bone, joint, and respiratory tract samples and a skin lesion, with supporting evidence of infection provided by histopathologic, cytologic, and radiographic data. Positive culture results were associated with clinical problems such as lethargy, anorexia, and lameness. Most (34/43 [79%]) turtles for which an antemortem diagnosis was made survived with treatment and were released into the wild.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cold-stunned Kemp's ridley turtles may be affected by serious Enterococcus spp infections during rehabilitation. Recognition and treatment of these infections are important for successful rehabilitation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Health, New England Aquarium, 1 Central Wharf, Boston, MA 02110.
authors.forename: Charles J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Innis
authors.forename: Hillary
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Braverman
authors.forename: Julie M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Cavin
authors.forename: Michelle L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Ceresia
authors.forename: Lindsey R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Baden
authors.forename: Duncan M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Kuhn
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Frasca
authors.forename: J Patrick
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: McGowan
authors.forename: Keiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hirokawa
authors.forename: E Scott
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Stacy
authors.forename: Constance
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Merigo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003080:Cold Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016983:Enterococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014426:Turtles
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents