Patterns and spatial distribution of sea turtle strandings in Alagoas, Brazil.

This study makes a descriptive analysis of necropsied sea turtles registered in the Biota Conservation Institute database between May 2018 and May 2022 on the coast of Alagoas, Brazil. During this period, 79 animals of four species were necropsied: 87.4 % (69) Chelonia mydas, 6.3 % (5) Caretta caretta, 3.8 % (3) Lepidochelys olivacea and 2.5 % (2) Eretmochelys imbricata. C. mydas was the most frequent species, mainly juvenile females. In 29.1 % (23/79) evidence of anthropogenic interactions was found (e.g., fishing net marks, plastic waste in the digestive tract, trauma from collisions with boats). Cutaneous tumors suggestive of fibropapillomatosis in 35.4 % (28/79), in C. mydas and E. imbricata, half were in an area of high eutrophication, close to the capital. Endoparasites were found in 46.8 % (37/79) individuals. Information on strandings in the region is essential for understanding the use of the area and the impacts to which these animals are exposed.

First report of Caryospora sp. infection in free-living green turtles (Chelonia mydas) in Northeastern Brazil.

Infection by Caryospora cheloniae has been reported to be responsible for green turtle strandings with high morbidity and mortality rates worldwide. Although studies have already shown the pathogenesis of these infections, many aspects of this protozoan are still poorly understood, including their life cycle and infection dynamics in free-living sea turtle populations. Due to the lack of information about the infection by this protozoan in sea turtles in Northeastern Brazil, our study aims to describe Caryospora sp. infection and its pathological findings in free-living Chelonia mydas found on the north coast of the Bahia state. Between 2018 and 2019, 64 specimens of green turtles were necropsied in partnership with Fundação Projeto Tamar; among these, 10 (1.56%) had oocysts morphologically compatible with Caryospora cheloniae in the evaluation of fecal samples and histopathological examination of intestinal samples. The infected animals were juvenile green turtles that were found stranded on the beaches of the north coast of Bahia. The pathological findings were restricted to the lower gastrointestinal tract, with different presentations and intensities. About 70% of the animals with coccidial infection exhibited erosive and ulcerative fibrinous enteritis. This is the first report of coccidiosis in green turtles on the north coast of Bahia.

Ingestão de resíduos antropogênicos por tartarugas marinhas no litoral norte do estado da Bahia, Brasil / Anthropogenic debris ingestion by sea turtles in the northern coast of Bahia, Brazil

Este trabalho descreve a presença de resíduos antropogênicos no trato digestório de tartarugas marinhas no Litoral Norte da Bahia, Brasil. Foram realizadas necropsias no trato digestório de 45 tartarugas marinhas encontradas mortas (Chelonia mydas n=36; Eretmochelys imbricata n=9), no período de janeiro de 2006 a outubro de 2007. Em 60 por cento (27/45) das tartarugas necropsiadas foram encontrados resíduos, especialmente aqueles relacionados à atividade de pesca. Os resíduos encontravam-se ao longo de todo o trato gastrointestinal, com predominância no intestino grosso. A ingestão de resíduos pelas tartarugas marinhas do Litoral Norte da Bahia pode levar a debilidade e até mesmo provocar a morte destes animais.

This study investigates the presence of anthropogenic debris in the digestive tract of sea turtles in the Northern Coast of Bahia, Brazil. Necropsies were performed on 45 turtles, 36 green turtles (Chelonia mydas) and 9 hawksbills (Eretmochelys imbricata), found dead between january 2006 and october 2007. Debris was found in 60 percent of the animals, especially those related to fishing activities. Litter could be found throughout the entire gastrointestinal tract, but it was found predominantly in the large intestine (47.53 percent). The ingestion of debris by turtles from the Northern coast of Bahia may lead these animals to starvation, weakness and even death.