Marques GN, Lopes R, Peleteiro MC, Bento JT, Mesquita JR, Dos Santos FA, Delgado L, Coelho AC, Lourenço M, Leal M, Lopes V, Castro AP, Barny R, Guerra J, Urbani N, Nunes A, Santos Y, Gaspar I, Garcês A, Neves J. · Microorganisms · 2025

Fatal Pneumonia Caused by <i>Beauveria bassiana</i> in a Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle (<i>Lepidochelys kempii</i>, Garman, 1880) on the Portuguese Coast: Case Report and Review of <i>Beauveria</i> spp. Infections in Reptiles.

Resumo original em inglês

The Kemp's ridley sea turtle ( Lepidochelys kempii ) is the most critically endangered sea turtle species, with a distribution primarily restricted to the Gulf of Mexico. Its occurrence along the Iberian Peninsula is exceedingly rare. This study describes the postmortem findings of a juvenile L. kempii rescued off the Portuguese coast in 2024, which died after 11 days in rehabilitation despite intensive supportive care. Necropsy revealed severe, diffuse pneumonia. Histopathological examination showed interstitial inflammation and branching septate hyphae, while fungal culture and DNA sequencing confirmed the presence of Beauveria bassiana . Mycotic diseases in reptiles are often underrecognised but can lead to significant morbidity and mortality, particularly in immunocompromised or stressed individuals such as stranded marine turtles. This rare occurrence of a L. kempii on the Portuguese coast provides important insights into the species' dispersal patterns and underlines the potential conservation implications of opportunistic fungal infections in endangered species.

Espécies citadas

• Lepidochelys kempii · tartaruga-de-kemp
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  Nomes populares variam entre regiões e uma mesma palavra pode designar espécies diferentes. Confira sempre o nome científico: Lepidochelys kempii.