EFFICACY OF PRAZIQUANTEL IN THE TREATMENT OF GREEN SEA-TURTLES WITH SPONTANEOUS INFECTION OF CARDIOVASCULAR FLUKES

Objective To assess the efficacy of praziquantel as a treatment for ca rdiovascular flukes in turtles. Procedure Six green sea turtles (Chelo nia mydas) spontaneously infected with cardiovascular flukes (Digenea: Spirorchidae) were treated orally with praziquantel, and necropsied 3 or 7 days later to look for flukes in the heart and major blood vesse ls, Six similar animals were maintained as untreated controls. Results Absence of flukes in treated, but not control turtles, indicated that a one day course of treatment at a dose rate of 3 x 50 mg/kg body wei ght is effective. Conclusion This result should be oi Value for preven ting disease in wild caught green turtles introduced into farms or aqu aria.