Fusarium spp. an emerging fungal threat to leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) eggs and neonates
IntroductionFungal diseases are a rising health problem globally, in humans, nonhuman animals, and plants. Emerging fungal diseases have been associated with mass mortality events. A recent example of fungal disease pathogenicity is sea turtle egg fusariosis (STEF). The pathogenicity of STEF has bee...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Marine Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2023.1170376/full |
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| author | Samantha G. Kuschke Samantha G. Kuschke Samantha G. Kuschke Samantha G. Kuschke Jeanette Wyneken Carolyn Cray Emily Turla Megan Kinsella Debra L. Miller Debra L. Miller Debra L. Miller |
| author_facet | Samantha G. Kuschke Samantha G. Kuschke Samantha G. Kuschke Samantha G. Kuschke Jeanette Wyneken Carolyn Cray Emily Turla Megan Kinsella Debra L. Miller Debra L. Miller Debra L. Miller |
| author_sort | Samantha G. Kuschke |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionFungal diseases are a rising health problem globally, in humans, nonhuman animals, and plants. Emerging fungal diseases have been associated with mass mortality events. A recent example of fungal disease pathogenicity is sea turtle egg fusariosis (STEF). The pathogenicity of STEF has been linked to fungi within the Fusarium solani species complex (FSSC). This complex is composed of over 45 phylogenetically identifiable species commonly found in the environment. Species within the FSSC lineage have been isolated from the nests of multiple sea turtle species and are linked to decreased hatching success in all 7 of the extant sea turtle species. Fungi within this lineage are also known to cause cutaneous and subcutaneous infections. These fungi are not only a threat to sea turtles but also to other animals, including humans, that use coastal waters and beaches inhabited by Fusarium spp. The presence of Fusarium spp., in the context of sea turtle health, has not been investigated on southeastern Florida beaches which are fundamentally important for at least three sea turtle species that nest there in large numbers.MethodsWe performed a retrospective assessment of necropsy reports from dead captive leatherback neonates from 2010 to 2022 to assess the most common microscopic diagnoses and the presence of skin lesions associated with mycotic dermatitis. Additionally, live captive leatherbacks and dead-in-nest samples from the 2022 hatching season were used to assess the presence and effect of mycotic dermatitis in Juno Beach and Boca Raton, Florida, USA. This was accomplished by observing gross lesions, fungal cultures, and blood values.ResultsThe retrospective analysis of dead captive neonates revealed that the diagnosis of mycotic dermatitis on histopathology has significantly increased since 2010. The assessment of gross skin lesions associated with mycotic dermatitis in dead and live captive leatherback neonates also revealed a similar increase. Investigations in live captive leatherbacks revealed fungal cultures positive for Fusarium spp. and significant differences in blood values at emergence between healthy turtles and those that later developed mycotic dermatitis.DiscussionPositive dead-in-nest culture results suggest that Fusarium spp. are likely present in leatherback sea turtle nests in Boca Raton and Juno Beach, Florida, USA. Additionally, the occurrence of mycotic dermatitis in dead and live captive leatherback neonates suggests that the presence of Fusarium spp. in the nest likely affects leatherback neonates even after emergence. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T14:51:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-35b51c35aac447f29a5c1f86de82f639 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-7745 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T14:51:30Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Marine Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-35b51c35aac447f29a5c1f86de82f6392023-08-15T11:25:46ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Marine Science2296-77452023-08-011010.3389/fmars.2023.11703761170376Fusarium spp. an emerging fungal threat to leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) eggs and neonatesSamantha G. Kuschke0Samantha G. Kuschke1Samantha G. Kuschke2Samantha G. Kuschke3Jeanette Wyneken4Carolyn Cray5Emily Turla6Megan Kinsella7Debra L. Miller8Debra L. Miller9Debra L. Miller10One Health Initiative, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United StatesDepartment of Biomedical and Diagnostic Services, University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, Knoxville, TN, United StatesDepartment of Biological Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, United StatesUpwell, Monterey, CA, United StatesDepartment of Biological Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, United StatesDepartment of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Division of Comparative Pathology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United StatesDepartment of Biological Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, United StatesDepartment of Biomedical and Diagnostic Services, University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, Knoxville, TN, United StatesOne Health Initiative, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United StatesDepartment of Biomedical and Diagnostic Services, University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, Knoxville, TN, United StatesUniversity of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, Center for Wildlife Health, Knoxville, TN, United StatesIntroductionFungal diseases are a rising health problem globally, in humans, nonhuman animals, and plants. Emerging fungal diseases have been associated with mass mortality events. A recent example of fungal disease pathogenicity is sea turtle egg fusariosis (STEF). The pathogenicity of STEF has been linked to fungi within the Fusarium solani species complex (FSSC). This complex is composed of over 45 phylogenetically identifiable species commonly found in the environment. Species within the FSSC lineage have been isolated from the nests of multiple sea turtle species and are linked to decreased hatching success in all 7 of the extant sea turtle species. Fungi within this lineage are also known to cause cutaneous and subcutaneous infections. These fungi are not only a threat to sea turtles but also to other animals, including humans, that use coastal waters and beaches inhabited by Fusarium spp. The presence of Fusarium spp., in the context of sea turtle health, has not been investigated on southeastern Florida beaches which are fundamentally important for at least three sea turtle species that nest there in large numbers.MethodsWe performed a retrospective assessment of necropsy reports from dead captive leatherback neonates from 2010 to 2022 to assess the most common microscopic diagnoses and the presence of skin lesions associated with mycotic dermatitis. Additionally, live captive leatherbacks and dead-in-nest samples from the 2022 hatching season were used to assess the presence and effect of mycotic dermatitis in Juno Beach and Boca Raton, Florida, USA. This was accomplished by observing gross lesions, fungal cultures, and blood values.ResultsThe retrospective analysis of dead captive neonates revealed that the diagnosis of mycotic dermatitis on histopathology has significantly increased since 2010. The assessment of gross skin lesions associated with mycotic dermatitis in dead and live captive leatherback neonates also revealed a similar increase. Investigations in live captive leatherbacks revealed fungal cultures positive for Fusarium spp. and significant differences in blood values at emergence between healthy turtles and those that later developed mycotic dermatitis.DiscussionPositive dead-in-nest culture results suggest that Fusarium spp. are likely present in leatherback sea turtle nests in Boca Raton and Juno Beach, Florida, USA. Additionally, the occurrence of mycotic dermatitis in dead and live captive leatherback neonates suggests that the presence of Fusarium spp. in the nest likely affects leatherback neonates even after emergence.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2023.1170376/fullfusariumsea turtle egg fusariosis (STEF)sea turtleleatherbackmycotic dermatitisemerging disease |
| spellingShingle | Samantha G. Kuschke Samantha G. Kuschke Samantha G. Kuschke Samantha G. Kuschke Jeanette Wyneken Carolyn Cray Emily Turla Megan Kinsella Debra L. Miller Debra L. Miller Debra L. Miller Fusarium spp. an emerging fungal threat to leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) eggs and neonates Frontiers in Marine Science fusarium sea turtle egg fusariosis (STEF) sea turtle leatherback mycotic dermatitis emerging disease |
| title | Fusarium spp. an emerging fungal threat to leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) eggs and neonates |
| title_full | Fusarium spp. an emerging fungal threat to leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) eggs and neonates |
| title_fullStr | Fusarium spp. an emerging fungal threat to leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) eggs and neonates |
| title_full_unstemmed | Fusarium spp. an emerging fungal threat to leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) eggs and neonates |
| title_short | Fusarium spp. an emerging fungal threat to leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) eggs and neonates |
| title_sort | fusarium spp an emerging fungal threat to leatherback dermochelys coriacea eggs and neonates |
| topic | fusarium sea turtle egg fusariosis (STEF) sea turtle leatherback mycotic dermatitis emerging disease |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2023.1170376/full |
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