title: Clinical and Pathological Findings in Green Turtles (Chelonia mydas) from Gladstone, Queensland: Investigations of a Stranding Epidemic.
abstract: An investigation into the health of green turtles was undertaken near Gladstone, Queensland, in response to a dramatic increase in stranding numbers in the first half of 2011. A total of 56 live turtles were subject to clinical examination and blood sampling for routine blood profiles, and 12 deceased turtles underwent a thorough necropsy examination. This population of green turtles was found to be in poor body condition and a range of infectious and non-infectious conditions were identified in the unhealthy turtles, including hepato-renal insufficiency (up to 81%, 27/33 based on clinical pathology), cachexia (92%, 11/12), parasitism (75%, 9/12), cardiopulmonary anomalies (42%, 5/12), gastroenteritis (25%, 3/12), masses (25%, 3/12) and mechanical impediments (17%, 2/12 based on necropsy). Overall, there was no evidence to indicate a unifying disease as a primary cause of the mass mortality. Recent adverse weather events, historic regional contamination and nearby industrial activities are discussed as potential causative factors.
authors.affiliation: School of Forest Resources and Conservation, University of Florida, The Florida Aquarium's Center for Conservation, Apollo Beach, FL, 33572, USA.|Veterinary-Marine Animal Research Teaching and Investigation Unit, School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Flint
authors.affiliation: Veterinary-Marine Animal Research Teaching and Investigation Unit, School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia. eden_paul@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Eden
authors.affiliation: Aquatic Threatened Species, Department of Environment and Heritage Protection (Queensland), Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Colin J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Limpus
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Sciences Diagnostic Services, School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Owen
authors.affiliation: National Research Centre for Environmental Toxicology (Entox), The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gaus
authors.affiliation: Veterinary-Marine Animal Research Teaching and Investigation Unit, School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Paul C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Mills
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D011793:Queensland; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014426:Turtles / Q000382:microbiology
keywords: disease; gladstone; green turtle; health; mortality; reptile