Notes on the gross anatomy of the heart of the broad-snouted caiman, Caiman latirostris (Daudin, 1802).

The broad-snouted caiman, Caiman latirostris (Daudin, 1802), is one of the six crocodilian species from Brazil. The topography, morphology and morphometry of the broad-snouted caiman heart were studied. Data were obtained from the necropsy of four adult animals, three females and one male. The hearts were removed from the coelomic cavity and fixed in 10% formalin for 48 hr for morphological and morphometric description. The heart is in the cranial mediastinum. It is caudally involved by the liver cranial margins, and ventrally by the ribs, intercostal muscles, and sternum and dorsally by the lungs. The four-chambered morphology is typical with two (right and left) atria and ventricles. Right and left aortic, pulmonary and subclavian arteries branch from the truncus arteriosus. Gubernaculum cordis is present as ligamentous folds uniting the heart apex to the pericardium. Main morphometric means are the apex-to-base length (49.86 mm), circumference (105.25 mm) and heart weight (45.03 g). The right atrium is craniocaudally longer with thicker walls, whereas the left ventricle is narrower. The topography, morphology and morphometry of the heart of C. latirostris are consistent with the anatomy of other crocodilian species.

Purpuriocillium lilacinum infection in captive loggerhead sea turtle hatchlings.

This paper reports a case of Purpureocillium lilacinum infection in seven loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) hatchlings kept in an aquarium under inadequate condition. The fungus was isolated from skin and pulmonary lesions. Metilene blue and NaCl solutions, Schinus terebinthifolius and eucalyptus essential oils Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations were determined indicating new possibilities for treatment.