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18 October 2019 Stranded Marine Turtles in Northeastern Brazil: Incidence and Spatial–Temporal Distribution of Fibropapillomatosis
Edson Soares da Silva-Júnior, Daniel Solon Dias de Farias, Aline da Costa Bomfim, Augusto Carlos da Boaviagem Freire, Rafael Ângelo Revorêdo, Silmara Rossi , Eliana Reiko Matushima, José Henrique Hildebrand Grisi-Filho, Flávio José de Lima Silva, Simone Almeida Gavilan
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Abstract

Fibropapillomatosis is a threat to the survival of marine turtles, especially green turtles; therefore, studies on this neoplastic disease are considered a conservation priority. Our goal was to characterize the incidence and spatial–temporal distribution of fibropapillomatosis in the Potiguar Basin, Rio Grande do Norte and Ceará states, Brazil. This study was based on data obtained during daily observations by a beach monitoring program from 2012 to 2015. A total of 2688 marine turtles, comprising the 5 species that occur in the Brazilian coast, were observed; 604 of the 610 individuals that presented fibropapillomatosis tumors were green turtles (Chelonia mydas). During the study period, we identified an increase in relative fibropapillomatosis frequency from 13.16% (2012) to 35.29% (2015), with a yearly peak in strandings between October and December. Fibropapillomatosis tumors were classified according to anatomical distribution, size, and the Southwest Atlantic Fibropapillomatosis Score (e.g., mild, moderate, and severe). The total number of tumors varied from 1 to 67; most were classified as size B and mild and were located mainly on the forelimbs and neck (49.63 and 25.95%, respectively). Our study shows the need to implement mitigation measures to promote sea turtle conservation in the Potiguar Basin, an important area for marine turtles in Brazil.

© 2019 Chelonian Research Foundation
Edson Soares da Silva-Júnior, Daniel Solon Dias de Farias, Aline da Costa Bomfim, Augusto Carlos da Boaviagem Freire, Rafael Ângelo Revorêdo, Silmara Rossi , Eliana Reiko Matushima, José Henrique Hildebrand Grisi-Filho, Flávio José de Lima Silva, and Simone Almeida Gavilan "Stranded Marine Turtles in Northeastern Brazil: Incidence and Spatial–Temporal Distribution of Fibropapillomatosis," Chelonian Conservation and Biology 18(2), 249-258, (18 October 2019). https://doi.org/10.2744/CCB-1359.1
Received: 17 September 2018; Accepted: 11 April 2019; Published: 18 October 2019
KEYWORDS
fibropapilloma
neoplastic disease
Northeast Brazil
sea turtles
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