Identification of parasites and epibionts in the Olive Ridley Turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) that arrived to the beaches of Michoacan and Oaxaca, Mexico

Abstract

WITH THE PURPOSE OF IDENTIFYING PARASITE AND EPIBIONTS IN THE OLIVE RIDLEY TURTLE (LEPIDOCHELYS OLIVACEA) THAT ARRIVED TO CALABAZAS BEACH (MICHOACAN) AND TO ESCOBILLA AND MORRO AYUTA (OAXACA) BEACHES, SKIN AND SHELL OF 28 SPECIMENS WERE EXAMINED FOR ECTOPARASITES AND EPIBIONTS. NECROPSY WAS CARRIED OUT ON TWO INDIVIDUALS THAT ARRIVED TO THE COASTS OF OAXACA. PARASITES WERE COLLECTED FROM THE PREDATIVE NESTS AND EGGS. FECES FROM 19 TURTLES WERE COLLECTED, BY CLOACAL LAVAGE, AND ANALYZED BY THE FAUST TECHNIQUE AND BY DIRECT FROTIS STAINED WITH MODIFIED ZIEHL-NEELSEN AND GIEMSA METHODS. THE HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF THE TURTLES CORRESPONDED TO CIRRIPEDIO CONCHODERMA VIRGATUM WITH 54.6%, FOLLOWED BY LEECH OZOBRANCHUS BRANCHIATUS 28% AND, IN LESS PROPORTION, CIRRIPEDIO CHELONIBIA TESTUDINARIA WITH 5.9% AND AMPHIPODO CAPRELLA SP WITH 11.5%. DIPTERA LARVAE OF THE GENUS PHROSINELLA SP AND COLEOPTHER TROX SUBEROSUS WERE COLLECTED. NOWADAYS THERE IS A HIGH INTEREST ON THE PROTECTION OF WILD ANIMALS WITH DIRECT PARTICIPATION OF VETERINARY MEDICINE. THAT IS HOW THE VETERINARIAN CAN BE DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN THE RESOLUTION OF TURTLE'S PROBLEMS. THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE PRESENT STUDY IS TO CONTINUE THE RESEARCH ON TAXONOMIC IDENTIFICATION OF ECTO AND ENDO-PARASITES IN MARINE TURTLES AND THE EFFECT AND POSSIBLE HARM THESE PARASITES CAN INDUCE IN THE HOST.