Successful surgical treatment of spear wounds in a Hawksbill Turtle, Eretmochelys imbricata; and cardiac failure of an Antillian Manatee, Trichechus manatus manatus, in Puerto Rico.

Abstract: Sea Turtles are frequently poached by spearing in the neck region and subsequently holding them alive until slaughter. Thus the ability of stranding networks to repair and rehabilitate these animals is of interest. Two Hawksbill Turtles, Eretmochelys imbricata, illegally collected by spear fishing 8 May 1993 were confiscated by the Puerto Rico Maritime Police and referred to the Caribbean Stranding Network for rehabilitation (Case # NEPCH136). The lacerated cervical region of both animals was surgically repaired. One adult male turtle 67 cm in carapace length and weighing 46.8 km lacking additional injuries recovered and was released (flipper tags QQD915, QQD916). A juvenile female was 46.0 cm in carapace length and 15.2 kg in weight with additional injuries succumbed to bacteria (Proteus mirabilis and Serratia rubridea) infections despite treatment with ampicillin trihydrate. A necropsy found routine numbers and diversity of parasites that were reported elsewhere. This result demonstrates that speared sea turtles without further complications can be rehabilitated. MATERIALS AND METHODS Two hawksbill turtles with spear wounds in the cervical region were found aboard a boat off La Parguera by the Maritime Police. The animals were confiscated and reported to the CSN (case # NEPCH136). Both animals were given emergency medical care (pressure bandages applied to the puncture wounds to prevent further hemorrhage) on site before being transported to the CSN facility at the Magueyes Island Marine Laboratories, Department of Marine Sciences, University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez, 13:30 hrs 8 May 1993. Standard rescue and rehabilitation procedures of the time were followed. The animals were placed on a dampened foam support cushion to prevent damage to their plastron during transport and the carapaces were kept moist by applying water. Lactated Ringers solution was administered intravenously for rehydration. Exploratory surgery was preformed on both animals to assess the extent of the damage RESULTS One turtle was a large, adult male, carapace length 67.0 cm, and 46.8 kg in weight; and the other a smaller, juvenile female, carapace length 46.0 cm, and 15.2 kg. A veterinary examination revealed that the animals, in all aspects besides their wounds, were in good physical condition with excellent muscle mass. Their carapaces and plastrons appeared normal except for the presence of a few barnacles (Chelonibia testudinaria, During surgery a 2-cm tear was found between the fifth and sixth tracheal rings of the female. Upon inspiration, the animal would gasp for air. The tear was surgically repaired and the animal was placed on antibiotic therapy for seven days. The musculature of the male was surgically repaired. The female was placed on a foam pad with a saltwater sprinkler system to keep the carapace and plastron moist. Lactated Ringers solution was administered intraceolomically at a rate of 16 ml/kg for both animals over a 24 hour period for rehydration. On day three in rehabilitation, she was slowly fed twice daily and monitored for signs of aspiration pneumonia. The male was placed in a shallow pool, administered antibiotic therapy (ampicillin trihydrate at a dosage of 4 mg/kg intramuscularly once a day) for seven days, and fed 10-12 locally caught sardines per day which it readily consumed. On day 13, the female was placed in a pool and monitored, but it died at 09:00 hrs on day 16. A necropsy revealed that the pleural/peritoneal lining, pericardial sac, and anterior mesenteric vessels contained a very gelatinous watery translucent fluid (1.012 specific gravity) which exuded from the cut surfaces. The pericardium and subcutaneous tissue had a transudative accumulation of fluid as well. These findings indicate edema. The anterior mesenteric vessels were congested with blood. There was an intense dark discolored area mottled with pale spots (histologically shown to be ischemia) and soft, dark hemorrhagic areas histologically shown to be necrosis in the heart musculature. The thymus gland was intensely red. Both lungs were edematous and had ecchymotic hemorrhage throughout the tissue. There was approximately one liter of serosanguinous fluid in the coelomic cavity. The cranial dorsal surface of the neck had a 2-cm superficial puncture wound and the mid-ventral wound had a yellow discoloration of the subcutaneous fascia. At necropsy, the dorsal anterior trachea was transected ventrally (1.3 cm) between the second and third tracheal ring. The surrounding fascia and the musculature were yellow and necrotic. The posterior oropharynx and anterior esophagus had a 2-cm puncture wound in the mucosa, submucosa, and adjacent musculature. A yellow caseous material was found in the fascia between the anterior esophagus and trachea. Bacteriological samples from the blood of the liver, and thymus gland were negative for growth. The heart blood was positive for Serratia rubridea and the serosanguinous fluid for Proteus mirabilis. Histological samples from these organs demonstrated an inflammatory response. No lesions occurred in the 274 Rev