Subacute Septicemia in a Leatherback Sea Turtle (Dermocheleys Coriacea) Rescued Ashore Northern Samar, Philippines

Abstract

The leatherback sea turtle (Dermocheleys coriacea) is considered an endangered species here in the Philippines and around the world. In Northern Samar, a leatherback sea turtle reportedly found by local fisher folks along the rocky mangrove and coral reef areas was placed in a rescue confinement for treatment and observation. Upon retrieval, the left fore flipper was already missing and the lacerated, amputated area was then bleeding. Treatment to arrest hemorrhage was performed and antimicrobials were administered. Two days thereafter, the animal succumbed to death. Because the animal was recovered a day following a typhoon that hit the province, it was inferred that the injury might be attributed to calamity-induced trauma as the animal was recovered as it was trapped along the rock-strewn mangrove areas. Following death, necropsy examination presented findings of severe congestive pneumonia, hemorrhages along the intestinal serosa, severe hepatic congestion, pericarditis and pronounced disseminated intravascular coagulopathy. The prominent histopathological finding of sub-acute severe hemorrhagic pneumonia with infiltrates of mononuclear cells, red blood cells, hemosiderins and proteinaceous debris were discerned along the lung parenchyma. The hepatocytes are swollen, distended and some presented congestion and necrosis. The intestinal sub-mucosae are infiltrated with mononuclear cells. Smears from blood and liver showed variable Gram-negative organisms. It was impressed that the animal may have been suffering from an underlying subclinical septicemic infection even prior to traumatic injury. These findings underscore the need to further study the microbial profile of this endangered species and provide means to mitigate occurrence of septicemia cases that could further exacerbate its dwindling populace. This index case of septicemia affecting a leatherback sea turtle has been reported for the first time in the country.