Case report: Blindness associated with Learedius learedi trematode infection in a green sea turtle, Chelonia mydas, of the northern Red Sea
Spirorchiid blood flukes are widespread in sea turtles, causing disease and mortality in their populations, with high prevalence in several ocean basins. Besides being leading parasitic causes of sea turtle strandings in several parts of the world, these infectious agents can cause endocarditis, vas...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Veterinary Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2023.1258522/full |
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| author | Danny Morick Danny Morick Danny Morick Vanessa M. Bachmann Vanessa M. Bachmann Eli Shemesh Eli Shemesh Ana Maria Botero-Anug Ziv Zemach-Shamir Ziv Zemach-Shamir Zahi Aizenberg Nadav Davidovich Nadav Davidovich Daphne W. Goldberg Gaston Kan Ron Ofri Dan Tchernov Dan Tchernov Dan Tchernov Yaniv Levy Yaniv Levy Yaniv Levy |
| author_facet | Danny Morick Danny Morick Danny Morick Vanessa M. Bachmann Vanessa M. Bachmann Eli Shemesh Eli Shemesh Ana Maria Botero-Anug Ziv Zemach-Shamir Ziv Zemach-Shamir Zahi Aizenberg Nadav Davidovich Nadav Davidovich Daphne W. Goldberg Gaston Kan Ron Ofri Dan Tchernov Dan Tchernov Dan Tchernov Yaniv Levy Yaniv Levy Yaniv Levy |
| author_sort | Danny Morick |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Spirorchiid blood flukes are widespread in sea turtles, causing disease and mortality in their populations, with high prevalence in several ocean basins. Besides being leading parasitic causes of sea turtle strandings in several parts of the world, these infectious agents can cause endocarditis, vasculitis, thrombosis, miliary egg granulomas, and aneurysms, which ultimately may compromise the survival of green sea turtles. More severe cases may also result in multifocal granulomatous meningitis or pneumonia, both of which can be fatal. Herein, we report the first case of severe trematode infection, Caused by Learedius learedi, in a green sea turtle in the northern Red Sea; this infection is associated with bilateral blindness. Necropsy revealed multiple granulomas with intralesional trematode eggs in the optic nerve, eyes, spleen, heart, and lungs. The parasite was identified as Learedius learedi through specific primers of the ribosomal genome and COI sequences obtained from GenBank. Altogether, these findings emphasize the importance of recognizing the systemic nature of this particular fluke infection to ultimately protect the lives of these marine animals and ensure the sustainability of these species in the wild. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T20:53:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7d58de8cbad547fdb911c6c3fce253e1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2297-1769 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T20:53:57Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Veterinary Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-7d58de8cbad547fdb911c6c3fce253e12023-09-30T21:10:35ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Veterinary Science2297-17692023-09-011010.3389/fvets.2023.12585221258522Case report: Blindness associated with Learedius learedi trematode infection in a green sea turtle, Chelonia mydas, of the northern Red SeaDanny Morick0Danny Morick1Danny Morick2Vanessa M. Bachmann3Vanessa M. Bachmann4Eli Shemesh5Eli Shemesh6Ana Maria Botero-Anug7Ziv Zemach-Shamir8Ziv Zemach-Shamir9Zahi Aizenberg10Nadav Davidovich11Nadav Davidovich12Daphne W. Goldberg13Gaston Kan14Ron Ofri15Dan Tchernov16Dan Tchernov17Dan Tchernov18Yaniv Levy19Yaniv Levy20Yaniv Levy21Morris Kahn Marine Research Station, University of Haifa, Haifa, IsraelDepartment of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, IsraelHong Kong Branch of Southern Marine Science and Engineering, Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, ChinaMorris Kahn Marine Research Station, University of Haifa, Haifa, IsraelDepartment of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, IsraelMorris Kahn Marine Research Station, University of Haifa, Haifa, IsraelDepartment of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, IsraelPathovet Diagnostic Veterinary Pathology Services, Rehovot, IsraelMorris Kahn Marine Research Station, University of Haifa, Haifa, IsraelDepartment of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, IsraelKoret School of Veterinary Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, IsraelDepartment of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, IsraelIsraeli Veterinary Services, Bet Dagan, IsraelInstituto Albatroz, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilIsraeli National Nature and Parks Authority-Israel Sea Turtle Rescue Center, Jerusalem, IsraelKoret School of Veterinary Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, IsraelMorris Kahn Marine Research Station, University of Haifa, Haifa, IsraelDepartment of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, IsraelHong Kong Branch of Southern Marine Science and Engineering, Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, ChinaMorris Kahn Marine Research Station, University of Haifa, Haifa, IsraelDepartment of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, IsraelIsraeli National Nature and Parks Authority-Israel Sea Turtle Rescue Center, Jerusalem, IsraelSpirorchiid blood flukes are widespread in sea turtles, causing disease and mortality in their populations, with high prevalence in several ocean basins. Besides being leading parasitic causes of sea turtle strandings in several parts of the world, these infectious agents can cause endocarditis, vasculitis, thrombosis, miliary egg granulomas, and aneurysms, which ultimately may compromise the survival of green sea turtles. More severe cases may also result in multifocal granulomatous meningitis or pneumonia, both of which can be fatal. Herein, we report the first case of severe trematode infection, Caused by Learedius learedi, in a green sea turtle in the northern Red Sea; this infection is associated with bilateral blindness. Necropsy revealed multiple granulomas with intralesional trematode eggs in the optic nerve, eyes, spleen, heart, and lungs. The parasite was identified as Learedius learedi through specific primers of the ribosomal genome and COI sequences obtained from GenBank. Altogether, these findings emphasize the importance of recognizing the systemic nature of this particular fluke infection to ultimately protect the lives of these marine animals and ensure the sustainability of these species in the wild.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2023.1258522/fullSpirorchiidLearedius learedigreen sea turtleblindnessoptic nerveRed Sea |
| spellingShingle | Danny Morick Danny Morick Danny Morick Vanessa M. Bachmann Vanessa M. Bachmann Eli Shemesh Eli Shemesh Ana Maria Botero-Anug Ziv Zemach-Shamir Ziv Zemach-Shamir Zahi Aizenberg Nadav Davidovich Nadav Davidovich Daphne W. Goldberg Gaston Kan Ron Ofri Dan Tchernov Dan Tchernov Dan Tchernov Yaniv Levy Yaniv Levy Yaniv Levy Case report: Blindness associated with Learedius learedi trematode infection in a green sea turtle, Chelonia mydas, of the northern Red Sea Frontiers in Veterinary Science Spirorchiid Learedius learedi green sea turtle blindness optic nerve Red Sea |
| title | Case report: Blindness associated with Learedius learedi trematode infection in a green sea turtle, Chelonia mydas, of the northern Red Sea |
| title_full | Case report: Blindness associated with Learedius learedi trematode infection in a green sea turtle, Chelonia mydas, of the northern Red Sea |
| title_fullStr | Case report: Blindness associated with Learedius learedi trematode infection in a green sea turtle, Chelonia mydas, of the northern Red Sea |
| title_full_unstemmed | Case report: Blindness associated with Learedius learedi trematode infection in a green sea turtle, Chelonia mydas, of the northern Red Sea |
| title_short | Case report: Blindness associated with Learedius learedi trematode infection in a green sea turtle, Chelonia mydas, of the northern Red Sea |
| title_sort | case report blindness associated with learedius learedi trematode infection in a green sea turtle chelonia mydas of the northern red sea |
| topic | Spirorchiid Learedius learedi green sea turtle blindness optic nerve Red Sea |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2023.1258522/full |
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