Synovial fluid analysis in healthy green turtles Chelonia mydas in Taiwan
Journal
Diseases of Aquatic Organisms
Series/Report No.
Diseases of aquatic organisms
Journal Volume
159
Start Page
171
End Page
182
ISSN
0177-5103
1616-1580
Date Issued
2024-09-26
Author(s)
DOI
10.3354/dao03813
Abstract
Septic arthritis is a frustrating disease in sea turtle rehabilitation because of its unclear pathogenesis, delayed onset during rehabilitation, long-term treatment requirements, and potentially poor prognosis. Radiography, blood cultures, and arthrocentesis have been used as diagnostic tools for suspected cases. However, there is currently a lack of data on the characteristics of synovial fluid in healthy sea turtles. To establish reference data for synovial fluid in sea turtles, we enrolled 14 green turtles Chelonia mydas rescued between 2019 and 2022 from 3 facilities using the following inclusion criteria: normal attitude and appetite, normal motor functions of the 4 limbs, no joint swelling, and no ongoing use of antibiotics for at least 1 mo. Bacterial cultures of blood and synovial fluid from the shoulder joints of these turtles were obtained and a qualitative analysis of the synovial fluid was performed. The results revealed bacterial culture-negative blood and synovial fluids at 37°C. Most characteristics of normal synovial fluid in green turtles, such as being transparent, colorless, and able to create a strand of over 2.5 cm by being pulled with a needle in viscosity trials, as well as the cytology of the normal synovial fluids being dominated by histiocytes and synovial lining cells, lymphocytes, and occasionally a few heterophils or erythrocytes were similar to those in mammals. This study provides information on the normal synovial fluid characteristics of green turtles in Taiwan, which may be beneficial for the diagnosis of joint diseases in sea turtles.
Subjects
Arthrocentesis
Blood culture
Osteomyelitis
Sea turtles
Septic arthritis
Synovial fluid analysis
Publisher
Inter-Research Science Center
Type
journal article