Eight-Year Study of <i>Haemogregarina stepanowi</i> Infection in Poached European Pond Turtles (<i>Emys orbicularis</i>) Held in Belgrade Zoo Quarantine
The eight-year study (2015–2023) was performed on a large sample of poached European pond turtles infected with <i>Haemogregarina stepanowi</i> and held in a pond that belongs to a quarantine section of Belgrade Zoo. The protected species of European pond turtles have been found in poor...
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MDPI AG
2023-07-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/15/2429 |
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| author | Sanja Aleksić-Kovačević Miloš Vučićević József Özvegy Stefan Jelisić Biljana Djurdjević Jasna Prodanov-Radulović Milan Došenović Darko Marinković |
| author_facet | Sanja Aleksić-Kovačević Miloš Vučićević József Özvegy Stefan Jelisić Biljana Djurdjević Jasna Prodanov-Radulović Milan Došenović Darko Marinković |
| author_sort | Sanja Aleksić-Kovačević |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The eight-year study (2015–2023) was performed on a large sample of poached European pond turtles infected with <i>Haemogregarina stepanowi</i> and held in a pond that belongs to a quarantine section of Belgrade Zoo. The protected species of European pond turtles have been found in poor health, with general weakness, anorexia, and low motility. Comprehensive cytological, hematological, molecular, and postmortem evaluations have been performed. Initially, Diff Quick staining of the blood smears revealed rounded or elongated erythrocytes, often bearing premeront or U-shaped gamont of the hemogregarines inside. The reduced erythrocyte numbers, hemoglobin, and hematocrit values found in the examined population of infected turtles indicated anemia. Macroscopically, shell necrosis and massive skin hemorrhages were the most prominent findings observed in diseased turtles. Microscopically, the lungs, liver, kidneys, and spleen revealed hyperemia, hemorrhages, and the presence of parasitic stages in tissue samples in 31 of 40 necropsied turtles. Cytological and microscopic examination of the samples proved to be sufficient for establishing the infection, but molecular analyses of the 18S sequence were used for phylogenetic studies. Over the years, the number of diseased and dead turtles has decreased, which could be hypothetically attributed to the elimination of leeches as the definitive host. |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T00:33:10Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-4f8f7d3d571b4fcc81a2c327f1c24d032023-11-18T22:32:54ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152023-07-011315242910.3390/ani13152429Eight-Year Study of <i>Haemogregarina stepanowi</i> Infection in Poached European Pond Turtles (<i>Emys orbicularis</i>) Held in Belgrade Zoo QuarantineSanja Aleksić-Kovačević0Miloš Vučićević1József Özvegy2Stefan Jelisić3Biljana Djurdjević4Jasna Prodanov-Radulović5Milan Došenović6Darko Marinković7Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, SerbiaFaculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, SerbiaBelgrade Zoo, 11000 Belgrade, SerbiaFaculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, SerbiaScientific Veterinary Institute “Novi Sad”, Department of Epizootiology, Clinical Diagnostics and DDD, 21000 Novi Sad, SerbiaScientific Veterinary Institute “Novi Sad”, Department of Epizootiology, Clinical Diagnostics and DDD, 21000 Novi Sad, SerbiaFaculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, SerbiaFaculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, SerbiaThe eight-year study (2015–2023) was performed on a large sample of poached European pond turtles infected with <i>Haemogregarina stepanowi</i> and held in a pond that belongs to a quarantine section of Belgrade Zoo. The protected species of European pond turtles have been found in poor health, with general weakness, anorexia, and low motility. Comprehensive cytological, hematological, molecular, and postmortem evaluations have been performed. Initially, Diff Quick staining of the blood smears revealed rounded or elongated erythrocytes, often bearing premeront or U-shaped gamont of the hemogregarines inside. The reduced erythrocyte numbers, hemoglobin, and hematocrit values found in the examined population of infected turtles indicated anemia. Macroscopically, shell necrosis and massive skin hemorrhages were the most prominent findings observed in diseased turtles. Microscopically, the lungs, liver, kidneys, and spleen revealed hyperemia, hemorrhages, and the presence of parasitic stages in tissue samples in 31 of 40 necropsied turtles. Cytological and microscopic examination of the samples proved to be sufficient for establishing the infection, but molecular analyses of the 18S sequence were used for phylogenetic studies. Over the years, the number of diseased and dead turtles has decreased, which could be hypothetically attributed to the elimination of leeches as the definitive host.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/15/2429European pond turtle<i>Haemogregarina stepanowi</i>Serbiazoo quarantine |
| spellingShingle | Sanja Aleksić-Kovačević Miloš Vučićević József Özvegy Stefan Jelisić Biljana Djurdjević Jasna Prodanov-Radulović Milan Došenović Darko Marinković Eight-Year Study of <i>Haemogregarina stepanowi</i> Infection in Poached European Pond Turtles (<i>Emys orbicularis</i>) Held in Belgrade Zoo Quarantine Animals European pond turtle <i>Haemogregarina stepanowi</i> Serbia zoo quarantine |
| title | Eight-Year Study of <i>Haemogregarina stepanowi</i> Infection in Poached European Pond Turtles (<i>Emys orbicularis</i>) Held in Belgrade Zoo Quarantine |
| title_full | Eight-Year Study of <i>Haemogregarina stepanowi</i> Infection in Poached European Pond Turtles (<i>Emys orbicularis</i>) Held in Belgrade Zoo Quarantine |
| title_fullStr | Eight-Year Study of <i>Haemogregarina stepanowi</i> Infection in Poached European Pond Turtles (<i>Emys orbicularis</i>) Held in Belgrade Zoo Quarantine |
| title_full_unstemmed | Eight-Year Study of <i>Haemogregarina stepanowi</i> Infection in Poached European Pond Turtles (<i>Emys orbicularis</i>) Held in Belgrade Zoo Quarantine |
| title_short | Eight-Year Study of <i>Haemogregarina stepanowi</i> Infection in Poached European Pond Turtles (<i>Emys orbicularis</i>) Held in Belgrade Zoo Quarantine |
| title_sort | eight year study of i haemogregarina stepanowi i infection in poached european pond turtles i emys orbicularis i held in belgrade zoo quarantine |
| topic | European pond turtle <i>Haemogregarina stepanowi</i> Serbia zoo quarantine |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/15/2429 |
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