GRAM-NEGATIVE BACTERIAL-INFECTIONS AND CARDIOVASCULAR PARASITISM IN GREEN SEA-TURTLES (CHELONIA-MYDAS)

Objective To investigate causes of ill health and mortality in juvenil e wild green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) found along the mid-north we st coast of Western Australia between June and October of 1997. Proced ure Department of Conservation and Land Management rangers submitted f our dead or dying green sea turtles from separate incidents for veteri nary examination, necropsy, and bacteriological, parasitological and h istopathological examination. Results Numerous different species of tr ematodes belonging to the families Pronocephalidae, Microscaphidiidae and Paramphistomidae were detected in the intestines of two turtles ex amined, and in all turtles there was severe spirorchid fluke infection including Haemoxenicon sp, Amphiorchis sp and Hapalotrema sp. Histopa thological examination demonstrated severe multifocal to diffuse granu lomatous vasculitis, aggregations of spirorchid fluke eggs and microab scesses throughout various tissues including intestines, kidney, liver , lung and brain. Cultures and or histopathological examination demons trated disseminated Gram-negative bacterial infections including salmo nella, E coli, Citrobacter freundii and Moraxella sp. Conclusion Infec tions caused by salmonellae, E coli and other Gram-negative bacteria s hould be considered as causes of systemic illness and death in wild gr een sea turtles infected with spirorchid cardiovascular flukes and oth er internal parasites.