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Disease risk analysis in sea turtles: A baseline study to inform conservation efforts

Mashkour N 1 , Jones K 1 , Kophamel S 1 , Hipolito T 1 , Ahasan S 1 , Walker G 2 Show all authors , Jakob-Hoff R 3 , Whittaker M 1 , Hamann M 4 , Bell I 5 , Elliman J 1 , Owens L 1 , Saladin C 6 , Crespo-Picazo JL 7 , Gardner B 8 , Loganathan AL 9 , Bowater R 1 , Young E 10 , Robinson D 11 , Baverstock W 11 , Blyde D 12 , March D 13 , Eghbali M 14 , Mohammadi M 15 , Freggi D 16 , Giliam J 17 , Hale M 18 , Nicolle N 19 , Spiby K 19 , Wrobel D 20 , Parga M 21 , Mobaraki A 22 , Rajakaruna R 23 , Hyland KP 24 , Read M 25 , Ariel E 1

Affiliations 

  • 1 College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
  • 2 North East Sea Turtles, Charlotteville, Tobago, Trinidad and Tobago
  • 3 New Zealand Centre for Conservation Medicine, Auckland Zoo, Auckland, New Zealand
  • 4 College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
  • 5 Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
  • 6 Reserve Naturelle de Saint Barthelemy, Gustavia, Saint Barthelemy
  • 7 Veterinary Services & Research Department, Fundación Oceanogràfic, Avanqua Oceanogràfic-Ágora, Valencia, Spain
  • 8 Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital, Beerwah, Queensland, Australia
  • 9 Biotechnology Research Institute, Universiti Malaysia, Sabah, Malaysia
  • 10 Conservation Medicine Program School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia
  • 11 The Aquarium & Dubai Turtle Rehabilitation Project, Burj Al Arab, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
  • 12 Sea World, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
  • 13 National Marine Science Centre & Centre for Coastal Biogeochemistry Research, School of Environment, Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, Coffs Harbour, NSW, Australia
  • 14 Ideh no doostdar_E- Hormozgan Ecotourism and NGO group, Iran
  • 15 Department of Environment, Kish, Iran
  • 16 Sea Turtle Rescue Centre, Lampedusa, Italy
  • 17 The Ark Animal Hospital, Northern Territory, Australia
  • 18 Yuku Baja Muliku Ranger Base, Archer Point, Australia
  • 19 Two Oceans Aquarium, Cape Town, South Africa
  • 20 Fundação Pró-TAMAR, Rua Professor Ademir Francisco s/n-Barra da Lagoa, Florianópolis-SC, Brazil
  • 21 SUBMON-Marine Environmental Services, Barcelona, Spain
  • 22 Department of the Environment, Wildlife and Aquatic Affairs Bureau, Tehran, Iran
  • 23 University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
  • 24 Wildlife Protection Office, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
  • 25 Field Management Unit, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Queensland, Australia
PLoS One, 2020;15(10):e0230760.
PMID: 33095793 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0230760

Abstract

The impact of a range of different threats has resulted in the listing of six out of seven sea turtle species on the IUCN Red List of endangered species. Disease risk analysis (DRA) tools are designed to provide objective, repeatable and documented assessment of the disease risks for a population and measures to reduce these risks through management options. To the best of our knowledge, DRAs have not previously been published for sea turtles, although disease is reported to contribute to sea turtle population decline. Here, a comprehensive list of health hazards is provided for all seven species of sea turtles. The possible risk these hazards pose to the health of sea turtles were assessed and "One Health" aspects of interacting with sea turtles were also investigated. The risk assessment was undertaken in collaboration with more than 30 experts in the field including veterinarians, microbiologists, social scientists, epidemiologists and stakeholders, in the form of two international workshops and one local workshop. The general finding of the DRA was the distinct lack of knowledge regarding a link between the presence of pathogens and diseases manifestation in sea turtles. A higher rate of disease in immunocompromised individuals was repeatedly reported and a possible link between immunosuppression and environmental contaminants as a result of anthropogenic influences was suggested. Society based conservation initiatives and as a result the cultural and social aspect of interacting with sea turtles appeared to need more attention and research. A risk management workshop was carried out to acquire the insights of local policy makers about management options for the risks relevant to Queensland and the options were evaluated considering their feasibility and effectiveness. The sea turtle DRA presented here, is a structured guide for future risk assessments to be used in specific scenarios such as translocation and head-starting programs.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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