Spirorchiid flukes (Digenea: Spirorchiidae) are parasites of circulatory system of freshwater and sea turtles. The presence of adults in heart and vessels and the spreading of eggs to various organs can lead to severe vasculitis, thrombosis and development of disseminated granulomas. Neospirorchis sp. in particular has been associated to meningitis and mortality mass event because of its tropism for Central Nervous System (CNS). One hundred forty-four carcasses of loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta), stranded along NorthEastern coast of Adriatic sea in the period 2009-2015 were analyzed for spirorchidiasis. After necropsies, research of parasitic elements by stereomicroscopy in major vessels and organs was performed, followed by copromicroscopic analysis and histological examination of tissues. Internal transcribed spacer 2 region (ITS2) from parasitic elements was amplified and sequenced for comparison with data in literature. Neospirorchis eggs (Type 3) were identified in faecal samples of six turtles (4.16%); four out of these had a mixed infection with Hapalotrema. No adults of Neospirorchis were found. Type 3 egg masses were grossly visible as black short stripes on the intestinal mucosa; big clusters of rounded eggs surrounded by granulomatous inflammation were histologically visible in mucosal and submucosal layers. Small granulomas surrounding isolated spirorchiid eggs were ubiquitous in several organs, but not in CNS. ITS2 sequences obtained from isolated eggs matched (100% identity) with those of Neospirorchis (Neogen11) described by Stacy (2008). To identify the possible origin of the infected turtles, sequences of mtDNA encompassing the Dloop region were analyzed. All turtles were carriers of Mediterranean haplotypes. This represents the first report of genus Neospirorchis in C. caretta living in the Mediterranean Sea. In this study spirorchidiasis seems not to have severely affected health status of the host, being lesions always mild in all districts.
FIRST REPORT OF GENUS NEOSPIRORCHIS IN SEA TURTLES FROM THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA
MARCHIORI, ERICA;NEGRISOLO, ENRICO MASSIMILIANO;POPPI, LISA;TESSARIN, CINZIA;MARCER, FEDERICA
2016
Abstract
Spirorchiid flukes (Digenea: Spirorchiidae) are parasites of circulatory system of freshwater and sea turtles. The presence of adults in heart and vessels and the spreading of eggs to various organs can lead to severe vasculitis, thrombosis and development of disseminated granulomas. Neospirorchis sp. in particular has been associated to meningitis and mortality mass event because of its tropism for Central Nervous System (CNS). One hundred forty-four carcasses of loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta), stranded along NorthEastern coast of Adriatic sea in the period 2009-2015 were analyzed for spirorchidiasis. After necropsies, research of parasitic elements by stereomicroscopy in major vessels and organs was performed, followed by copromicroscopic analysis and histological examination of tissues. Internal transcribed spacer 2 region (ITS2) from parasitic elements was amplified and sequenced for comparison with data in literature. Neospirorchis eggs (Type 3) were identified in faecal samples of six turtles (4.16%); four out of these had a mixed infection with Hapalotrema. No adults of Neospirorchis were found. Type 3 egg masses were grossly visible as black short stripes on the intestinal mucosa; big clusters of rounded eggs surrounded by granulomatous inflammation were histologically visible in mucosal and submucosal layers. Small granulomas surrounding isolated spirorchiid eggs were ubiquitous in several organs, but not in CNS. ITS2 sequences obtained from isolated eggs matched (100% identity) with those of Neospirorchis (Neogen11) described by Stacy (2008). To identify the possible origin of the infected turtles, sequences of mtDNA encompassing the Dloop region were analyzed. All turtles were carriers of Mediterranean haplotypes. This represents the first report of genus Neospirorchis in C. caretta living in the Mediterranean Sea. In this study spirorchidiasis seems not to have severely affected health status of the host, being lesions always mild in all districts.
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