title: Solitary Large Intestinal Diverticulitis in Leatherback Turtles (Dermochelys coriacea).
abstract: Leatherback sea turtles are globally distributed and endangered throughout their range. There are limited data available on disease in this species. Initial observations of solitary large intestinal diverticulitis in multiple leatherbacks led to a multi-institutional review of cases. Of 31 subadult and adult turtles for which complete records were available, all had a single exudate-filled diverticulum, as large as 9.0 cm in diameter, arising from the large intestine immediately distal to the ileocecal junction. All lesions were chronic and characterized by ongoing inflammation, numerous intralesional bacteria, marked attenuation of the muscularis, ulceration, and secondary mucosal changes. In three cases, Morganella morganii was isolated from lesions. Diverticulitis was unrelated to the cause of death in all cases, although risk of perforation and other complications are possible.
authors.affiliation: National Marine Fisheries Service, Office of Protected Resources and University of Florida, College of Veterinary Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA Brian.Stacy@noaa.gov.
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Stacy
authors.affiliation: New England Aquarium, Animal Health Department, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Innis
authors.affiliation: Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, Prince Edward Island, Canada.
authors.forename: P-Y
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Daoust
authors.affiliation: Florida Atlantic University, Department of Biological Sciences, Boca Raton, FL, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wyneken
authors.affiliation: California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Office of Spill Prevention and Response, Marine Wildlife Veterinary Care and Research Center, Santa Cruz, CA, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.affiliation: National Marine Fisheries Service, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, Morro Bay, CA, USA.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.affiliation: Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Population Ecology Division, Nova Scotia, Canada.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: James
authors.affiliation: North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Center for Marine Sciences and Technology, Morehead City, NC, USA.
authors.forename: E F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Christiansen
authors.affiliation: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Jacksonville Field Laboratory, Jacksonville, FL, USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Foley
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004238:Diverticulitis / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004240:Diverticulum / Q000662:veterinary*; D056727:Endangered Species; D005260:Female; D007410:Intestinal Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D014426:Turtles
keywords: cecum; colon; diverticulitis; diverticulosis; leatherback sea turtle; pathology; sea turtle