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Beale DJ, Nguyen TV, Bose U, Shah R, Nelis JLD, Stockwell S, Broadbent JA, Nilsson S, Rane R, Court L, Lettoof DC, Pandey G, Walsh TK, Shaw S, Llinas J, Limpus D, Limpus C, Braun C, Baddiley B, Vardy S. Metabolic disruptions and impaired reproductive fitness in wild-caught freshwater turtles (Emydura macquarii macquarii) exposed to elevated per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 926:171743. [PMID: 38494020 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) pose a threat to organisms and ecosystems due to their persistent nature. Ecotoxicology endpoints used in regulatory guidelines may not reflect multiple, low-level but persistent stressors. This study examines the biological effects of PFAS on Eastern short-necked turtles in Queensland, Australia. In this study, blood samples were collected and analysed for PFAS, hormone levels, and functional omics endpoints. High levels of PFAS were found in turtles at the impacted site, with PFOS being the dominant constituent. The PFAS profiles of males and females differed, with males having higher PFAS concentrations. Hormone concentrations differed between impacted and reference sites in male turtles, with elevated testosterone and corticosterone indicative of stress. Further, energy utilisation, nucleotide synthesis, nitrogen metabolism, and amino acid synthesis were altered in both male and female turtles from PFAS-impacted sites. Both sexes show similar metabolic responses to environmental stressors from the PFAS-contaminated site, which may adversely affect their reproductive fitness. Purine metabolism, caffeine metabolism, and ferroptosis pathway changes in turtles can cause gout, cell death, and overall health problems. Further, the study showed that prolonged exposure to elevated PFAS levels in the wild could compromise turtle reproductive fitness by disrupting reproductive steroids and metabolic pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J Beale
- Environment, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Ecosciences Precinct, Dutton Park, Qld 4102, Australia.
| | - Thao V Nguyen
- Environment, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Ecosciences Precinct, Dutton Park, Qld 4102, Australia
| | - Utpal Bose
- Agriculture and Food, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Queensland Bioscience Precinct, St Lucia, Qld 4067, Australia
| | - Rohan Shah
- Environment, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Ecosciences Precinct, Dutton Park, Qld 4102, Australia; School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, STEM College, RMIT University, Bundoora West, Vic 3083, Australia; Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, School of Science, Computing and Engineering Technologies, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn Vic 3122, Australia
| | - Joost Laurus Dinant Nelis
- Agriculture and Food, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Queensland Bioscience Precinct, St Lucia, Qld 4067, Australia
| | - Sally Stockwell
- Agriculture and Food, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Queensland Bioscience Precinct, St Lucia, Qld 4067, Australia
| | - James A Broadbent
- Agriculture and Food, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Queensland Bioscience Precinct, St Lucia, Qld 4067, Australia
| | - Sandra Nilsson
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, Qld 4102, Australia
| | - Rahul Rane
- Health and Biosecurity, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Parkville, Vic 3052, Australia
| | - Leon Court
- Environment, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, CSIRO Black Mountain Laboratories, Acton, ACT 2602, Australia
| | - Damian C Lettoof
- Environment, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, CSIRO Centre for Environment and Life Sciences, Floreat, WA 6014, Australia
| | - Gunjan Pandey
- Environment, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, CSIRO Black Mountain Laboratories, Acton, ACT 2602, Australia
| | - Thomas K Walsh
- Environment, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, CSIRO Black Mountain Laboratories, Acton, ACT 2602, Australia
| | - Stephanie Shaw
- Wildlife and Threatened Species Operations, Department of Environment and Science, Queensland Government, Moggill, Qld 4070, Australia
| | - Josh Llinas
- The Unusual Pet Vets Jindalee, Veterinarian, Jindalee, Qld 4074, Australia
| | - Duncan Limpus
- Aquatic Threatened Species, Wildlife and Threatened Species Operations, Department of Environment and Science, Queensland Government, Dutton Park, Qld 4102, Australia
| | - Colin Limpus
- Aquatic Threatened Species, Wildlife and Threatened Species Operations, Department of Environment and Science, Queensland Government, Dutton Park, Qld 4102, Australia
| | - Christoph Braun
- Water Quality and Investigations, Science and Technology Division, Department of Environment and Science, Queensland Government, Dutton Park, Qld 4102, Australia
| | - Brenda Baddiley
- Water Quality and Investigations, Science and Technology Division, Department of Environment and Science, Queensland Government, Dutton Park, Qld 4102, Australia
| | - Suzanne Vardy
- Water Quality and Investigations, Science and Technology Division, Department of Environment and Science, Queensland Government, Dutton Park, Qld 4102, Australia
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Kucinick M, Charles KE, Carter K, Edwards J, Costlow C, Wilkerson M, Seddon D, Marancik D. Comparative plasma biochemistry analyte data in nesting leatherback ( Dermochelys coriacea), foraging green ( Chelonia mydas) and foraging and nesting hawksbill ( Eretmochelys imbricata) sea turtles in Grenada, West Indies. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 12:coae028. [PMID: 38765884 PMCID: PMC11099945 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coae028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Blood biochemistry represents a minimally invasive tool for monitoring sea turtle health, assessing injured sea turtles and supporting conservation strategies. In Grenada, West Indies, plasma biochemical variables were examined in 33 nesting leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), 49 foraging green (Chelonia mydas), 49 foraging hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) and 12 nesting hawksbill sea turtles sampled between 2017 and 2022. Plasma biochemistry reference intervals are described herein except for nesting hawksbills, which are represented by descriptive statistics due to the low sample size. Select analyte concentrations were positively correlated with curved carapace length in leatherbacks (chloride), green turtles (total protein, albumin and globulin) and foraging hawksbills (total protein, albumin and phosphorus). Cholesterol (7.8 mmol/l ± 1.6 SD) and triglyceride (6.9 mmol/l ± 1.9 SD) concentrations were significantly higher in leatherbacks compared to foraging green turtles, foraging hawksbills and nesting hawksbills (P < 0.001 for all). Cholesterol was significantly higher in nesting hawksbills compared to foraging green turtles (P = 0.050) and foraging hawksbills (P = 0.050). Foraging hawksbills demonstrated significantly higher aspartate transaminase activities than leatherbacks (P = 0.002), green turtles (P = 0.009) and nesting hawksbills (P < 0.001). Biochemical results provide baseline population health data and support guidance for treatments during clinical sea turtle rehabilitation efforts. They also provide insight into species-specific physiologic differences and preludes further studies to better characterize the impacts of life-stage class on biochemistry reference intervals to better support wild sea turtle populations in Grenada.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madison Kucinick
- Department of Pathobiology, St. George’s University School of Veterinary Medicine, True Blue, Grenada, West Indies
| | | | - Kenrith Carter
- Ocean Spirits, Inc, Levera, Grenada, West Indies
- Dr Carter Veterinary Services, St. David's, Grenada, West Indies
| | - Jonnel Edwards
- Department of Pathobiology, St. George’s University School of Veterinary Medicine, True Blue, Grenada, West Indies
| | - Catherine Costlow
- Department of Pathobiology, St. George’s University School of Veterinary Medicine, True Blue, Grenada, West Indies
| | - Melinda Wilkerson
- Department of Pathobiology, St. George’s University School of Veterinary Medicine, True Blue, Grenada, West Indies
| | - Dawn Seddon
- Department of Pathobiology, St. George’s University School of Veterinary Medicine, True Blue, Grenada, West Indies
| | - David Marancik
- Department of Pathobiology, St. George’s University School of Veterinary Medicine, True Blue, Grenada, West Indies
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Crooks GC, Calle PP, Moore RP, McClave C, Toledo P, Gomez NA, Perez VB, Tewfik A, Rao S, Sadar MJ. HEMATOLOGIC AND BIOCHEMICAL VALUES OF FREE-RANGING HAWKSBILL SEA TURTLES ( ERETMOCHELYS IMBRICATA) IN GLOVER'S REEF, BELIZE. J Zoo Wildl Med 2023; 54:49-55. [PMID: 36971628 DOI: 10.1638/2021-0086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Blood samples were obtained from the dorsal cervical sinus of free-ranging hawksbill sea turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) collected at Glover's Reef Marine Reserve, 42 km east of the coast of Belize, for hematology and plasma biochemistry analysis. Unknown sex, subadult turtles (N = 32) were sampled in 2013 (n = 22) and 2017 (n = 10). To provide a more robust data set, parameters that did not have statistically significant differences were pooled and treated as a single population. Eleven hematologic parameters were evaluated; of these, five were pooled. Twenty-three plasma biochemical parameters were evaluated; of these, 15 were pooled. The PCV observed in this study (mean 33.44%) was double that observed in two studies of juvenile hawksbills in Dubai (means 17% and 16%), whereas the total WBC count was half that observed in immature and adult hawksbills sampled in the Galápagos (mean 2.91 × 103 versus 5.3 × 103/µl). Total protein and albumin were lower than regionally similar, adult female hawksbills in Brazil (means 3.36 versus 5.45 g/dl and 0.93 versus 2.11 g/dl, respectively). Globulins were higher (mean 2.43 versus 1.06 and 0.5 g/dl), driving the albumin:globulin ratio lower than that observed in two studies of juvenile hawksbills in Dubai (0.4:1 versus 1.1:1 and 1:1, respectively). These findings represent a geographically distinct population from previous reports, highlight the variability in blood parameters from disparate populations, and reaffirm the vital importance of considering a multitude of variables when interpreting reptilian blood values. The similarities in the majority of values observed in 2013 and 2017 provide confidence in the stability of these parameters in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Garrett C Crooks
- James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Paul P Calle
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Zoological Health Program, Bronx, NY 10460, USA
| | - Robert P Moore
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Zoological Health Program, Bronx, NY 10460, USA
| | - Catherine McClave
- Wildlife Conservation Society, New York Aquarium, Aquatic Animal Health Department, Brooklyn, NY 11224, USA
| | - Patricia Toledo
- Wildlife Conservation Society, New York Aquarium, Aquatic Animal Health Department, Brooklyn, NY 11224, USA
| | | | - Virginia B Perez
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Belize Conservation Program, Belize
| | - Alexander Tewfik
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Belize Conservation Program, Belize
| | - Sangeeta Rao
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Miranda J Sadar
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA,
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PLASMA BIOCHEMISTRY PROFILES OF JUVENILE GREEN TURTLES (CHELONIA MYDAS) FROM THE BAHAMAS WITH A POTENTIAL INFLUENCE OF DIET. J Wildl Dis 2021; 56:768-780. [PMID: 33600601 DOI: 10.7589/jwd-d-20-00009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2020] [Accepted: 06/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Plasma biochemistry profiles aid health assessment of marine turtles, but knowledge of the influence of regional biological factors (e.g., habitat, diet) on marine turtle blood plasma values is limited. To investigate the influence of diet on plasma biochemistry values in juvenile green turtles (Chelonia mydas), we used carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes to provide a quantitative estimate of forage items in green turtles feeding at two distinct areas (Bonefish Hole and South Flats) in Bimini, Bahamas. Plasma samples were obtained from 13 turtles in Bonefish Hole (a mangrove tidal estuary) and 15 turtles in South Flats (an open water seagrass bed) in 2018. All turtles appeared outwardly healthy. Sessile filter feeders contributed the largest proportion of diet in Bonefish Hole, and seagrass contributed the highest proportion of diet in South Flats. Turtles at Bonefish Hole presented significantly lower cholesterol, total protein, phosphorus, triglycerides, and aspartate transaminase compared to South Flats. Across all turtles, those feeding primarily on red algae presented the highest uric acid and alkaline phosphatase, and turtles with a seagrass-dominated diet had the highest cholesterol. Understanding dietary influence on plasma biochemistry may help explain variances seen in local health and nutritional evaluations, and the trends reported can aid the interpretation of plasma analyte values in marine turtles.
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Rees AF, Alfaro-Shigueto J, Barata PCR, Bjorndal KA, Bolten AB, Bourjea J, Broderick AC, Campbell LM, Cardona L, Carreras C, Casale P, Ceriani SA, Dutton PH, Eguchi T, Formia A, Fuentes MMPB, Fuller WJ, Girondot M, Godfrey MH, Hamann M, Hart KM, Hays GC, Hochscheid S, Kaska Y, Jensen MP, Mangel JC, Mortimer JA, Naro-Maciel E, Ng CKY, Nichols WJ, Phillott AD, Reina RD, Revuelta O, Schofield G, Seminoff JA, Shanker K, Tomás J, van de Merwe JP, Van Houtan KS, Vander Zanden HB, Wallace BP, Wedemeyer-Strombel KR, Work TM, Godley BJ. Are we working towards global research priorities for management and conservation of sea turtles? ENDANGER SPECIES RES 2016. [DOI: 10.3354/esr00801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 175] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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Flint M, Matthews BJ, Limpus CJ, Mills PC. Establishment of reference intervals for plasma protein electrophoresis in Indo-Pacific green sea turtles, Chelonia mydas. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2015; 3:cov037. [PMID: 27293722 PMCID: PMC4778479 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/cov037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2015] [Revised: 07/02/2015] [Accepted: 07/18/2015] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Biochemical and haematological parameters are increasingly used to diagnose disease in green sea turtles. Specific clinical pathology tools, such as plasma protein electrophoresis analysis, are now being used more frequently to improve our ability to diagnose disease in the live animal. Plasma protein reference intervals were calculated from 55 clinically healthy green sea turtles using pulsed field electrophoresis to determine pre-albumin, albumin, α-, β- and γ-globulin concentrations. The estimated reference intervals were then compared with data profiles from clinically unhealthy turtles admitted to a local wildlife hospital to assess the validity of the derived intervals and identify the clinically useful plasma protein fractions. Eighty-six per cent {19 of 22 [95% confidence interval (CI) 65-97]} of clinically unhealthy turtles had values outside the derived reference intervals, including the following: total protein [six of 22 turtles or 27% (95% CI 11-50%)], pre-albumin [two of five, 40% (95% CI 5-85%)], albumin [13 of 22, 59% (95% CI 36-79%)], total albumin [13 of 22, 59% (95% CI 36-79%)], α- [10 of 22, 45% (95% CI 24-68%)], β- [two of 10, 20% (95% CI 3-56%)], γ- [one of 10, 10% (95% CI 0.3-45%)] and β-γ-globulin [one of 12, 8% (95% CI 0.2-38%)] and total globulin [five of 22, 23% (8-45%)]. Plasma protein electrophoresis shows promise as an accurate adjunct tool to identify a disease state in marine turtles. This study presents the first reference interval for plasma protein electrophoresis in the Indo-Pacific green sea turtle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Flint
- School of Forest Resources and Conservation, University of Florida, The Florida Aquarium's Center for Conservation, Apollo Beach, FL 33572, USA
- Veterinary–Marine Animal Research, Teaching and Investigation Unit, School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton Campus, QLD 4343, Australia
- Corresponding author: School of Forest Resources and Conservation, University of Florida, The Florida Aquarium's Center for Conservation, Apollo Beach, FL 33572, USA. Tel: +1 813 419 4917.
| | - Beren J. Matthews
- Veterinary–Marine Animal Research, Teaching and Investigation Unit, School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton Campus, QLD 4343, Australia
| | - Colin J. Limpus
- Department of Environment and Heritage Protection, Dutton Park, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Paul C. Mills
- Veterinary–Marine Animal Research, Teaching and Investigation Unit, School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton Campus, QLD 4343, Australia
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