Organochlorine pesticides in green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) with and without fibropapillomatosis caught at three feeding areas off Brazil

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Sanchez-Sarmiento, Angelica Maria ; Rossi, Silmara ; Vilca, Franz Zirena ; Thijl Vanstreels, Ralph Eric ; Monteiro, Sergio Henrique ; Vale, Luiz Americo S. ; dos Santos, Robson Guimaraes ; Marigo, Juliana ; Bertozzi, Carolina Pacheco ; Hildebrand Grisi Filho, Jose Henrique ; Tornisielo, Valdemar Luiz ; Matushima, Eliana Reiko

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom; v. 97, n. 1, p. 215-223, FEB 2017.
• Web of Science Citations: 3

Abstract

Many factors threaten the survival of marine turtles, such as incidental capture by fisheries, habitat degradation, pollution and diseases. One of the most important diseases is fibropapillomatosis (FP), characterized by the development of benign skin tumours. FP predominantly affects juvenile green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) and involves a complex multifactorial aetiology. For several years, it has been noted that the prevalence of FP tends to be higher in marine environments under the influence of human activities, leading to the hypothesis that environmental pollutants play a role in the epidemiology of this disease. Organochlorine compounds (OCs) are persistent organic pollutants with immunosuppressive and carcinogenic effects in humans and wildlife. OC levels (alpha-BHC, beta-BHC, alpha-endosulphan, beta-endosulphan, endosulphan sulphate, pp'-DDD, op'-DDD, pp'-DDE, op'-DDE, heptachlor, dicofol and mirex) were quantified through gas chromatography with a micro-electron capture detector (GC-mu ECD) in liver and fat samples from 64 juvenile green sea turtles. Specimens with and without FP were analysed, after being caught at three feeding areas off the Brazilian coast: Ubatuba, Praia Grande and Vitoria. OC levels were comparable to those observed in similar studies, and no consistent difference was observed between sea turtles with and without FP. This study helps to elucidate the contamination profile in sea turtles caught at feeding areas off Brazil and confirms that green sea turtles are exposed to OCs, which may play a negative role in the health of this species. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 11/04565-7 - Presence of environmental contaminants in tissues of green turtle (Chelonia mydas) from the brazilian coast: prevalence study in animals affected by fibropapilomatosis
• Grantee: Angélica María Sánchez Sarmiento
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• FAPESP's process: 10/01781-8 - Assessment of cellular function of leukocytes by flow cytometry and the influence of polychlorinated biphenyls in the development of fibropapillomatosis in Chelonia mydas (Linnaeus, 1758) (Testudines, Cheloniidae).
• Grantee: Silmara Rossi
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 12/14319-6 - Ecology and etiology of fibropapillomatosis in Chelonia mydas (Testudines, Cheloniidae) populations: structure of populations and the role of polychlorinated biphenyls and toxic potentially metals for the development of diseases
• Grantee: Eliana Reiko Matushima
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 09/53956-9 - Study of avian malaria in Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) kept in selected Brazilian coast rehabilitation centers
• Grantee: Ralph Eric Thijl Del Val Onoro Vanstreels
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)