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Monitoring green sea turtles in Brazilian feeding areas: relating body condition index to fibropapillomatosis prevalence

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 September 2019

Silmara Rossi*
Affiliation:
Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Centro de Biociências, Departamento de Morfologia, Laboratório de Morfofisiologia Comparada, Campus Universitário UFRN, Lagoa Nova, CEP 59072-970, Natal/Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil Grupo de Pesquisa sobre Fibropapilomatose em Tartarugas Marinhas, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Av. Prof. Dr Orlando Marques de Paiva 87, Cidade Universitária, CEP 05508-270, São Paulo/São Paulo, Brazil
Angélica María Sánchez-Sarmiento
Affiliation:
Laboratório de Patologia Comparada de Animais Selvagens (LAPCOM), Departamento de Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Av. Prof. Dr Orlando Marques de Paiva 87, Cidade Universitária, CEP 05508-270, São Paulo/São Paulo, Brazil
Robson Guimarães dos Santos
Affiliation:
Laboratório de Biologia Marinha e Conservação, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Av. Lourival Melo Mota, S/N, Tabuleiro do Martins, CEP 57072-970, Maceió/Alagoas, Brazil
Roberta Ramblas Zamana
Affiliation:
Grupo de Pesquisa sobre Fibropapilomatose em Tartarugas Marinhas, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Av. Prof. Dr Orlando Marques de Paiva 87, Cidade Universitária, CEP 05508-270, São Paulo/São Paulo, Brazil Laboratório de Patologia Comparada de Animais Selvagens (LAPCOM), Departamento de Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Av. Prof. Dr Orlando Marques de Paiva 87, Cidade Universitária, CEP 05508-270, São Paulo/São Paulo, Brazil
Fabiola Eloisa Setim Prioste
Affiliation:
Grupo de Pesquisa sobre Fibropapilomatose em Tartarugas Marinhas, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Av. Prof. Dr Orlando Marques de Paiva 87, Cidade Universitária, CEP 05508-270, São Paulo/São Paulo, Brazil Universidade São Judas, Rua Taquari, 546, Mooca, CEP 03166-000, São Paulo/SP, Brazil
Marco Aurélio Gattamorta
Affiliation:
Grupo de Pesquisa sobre Fibropapilomatose em Tartarugas Marinhas, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Av. Prof. Dr Orlando Marques de Paiva 87, Cidade Universitária, CEP 05508-270, São Paulo/São Paulo, Brazil Escola de Engenharia e Arquitetura, Faculdades Metropolitanas Unidas (FMU), Av. Liberdade 899, Liberdade, CEP 01503-001, São Paulo/São Paulo, Brazil
Pablo Felipe Cruz Ochoa
Affiliation:
Bioparque Los Ocarros, Km 3 via Restrepo, Villavicencio/Meta, Colombia
José Henrique Hildebrand Grisi-Filho
Affiliation:
Laboratório de Epidemiologia e Estatística (LEB), Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Av. Prof. Dr Orlando Marques de Paiva 87, Cidade Universitária, CEP 05508-270, São Paulo/São Paulo, Brazil
Eliana Reiko Matushima
Affiliation:
Grupo de Pesquisa sobre Fibropapilomatose em Tartarugas Marinhas, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Av. Prof. Dr Orlando Marques de Paiva 87, Cidade Universitária, CEP 05508-270, São Paulo/São Paulo, Brazil Laboratório de Patologia Comparada de Animais Selvagens (LAPCOM), Departamento de Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Av. Prof. Dr Orlando Marques de Paiva 87, Cidade Universitária, CEP 05508-270, São Paulo/São Paulo, Brazil
*
Author for correspondence: Silmara Rossi, E-mail: smara.rossi@gmail.com

Abstract

Fibropapillomatosis (FP) can be an important conservation threat to green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) due to its widespread distribution and complex aetiology. Thus, understanding the impacts of FP in sea turtle populations is a research priority towards conservation efforts. The body condition index (BCI), based on straight carapace length (SCL) and body mass (BM), is an accurate indicator of body-nutritional condition that can be used in routine green turtle health evaluations. This study aimed to compare BCI in FP-free (N = 369) and FP-affected (N = 518) green turtles from Brazilian feeding areas. Body condition indices were evaluated in terms of the South-west Atlantic Fibropapillomatosis Score – FPSSWA (mild, moderate and severe), study sites (five Brazilian states), origin (intentional capture, fishery, stranding and afloat) and sex (when known). Curved and straight carapace lengths, and body mass were recorded in order to calculate BCI. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences in BCI among green turtles from different study areas (P = 0.02), and lower BCI values in FP-free than in FP-positive individuals (P < 0.0001). With regards to origin, the highest BCI was found in the intentional capture group (N = 245; 1.47 ± 0.16), followed by fishery (N = 180; 1.46 ± 0.20). Analysis according to sex revealed a higher mean BCI among females than males (P < 0.017). This study provides relevant data on the health and nutritional status of green turtles along the Brazilian coast, in important feeding areas for this species.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2019 

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