Diagnosis and management of nontuberculous mycobacterial infections in cold-stunned Kemp's ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys kempii)

Abstract

Medical records were reviewed retrospectively for 16 cold-stunned Kemp’s ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys kempii, KRST) that were diagnosed with nontuberculous mycobacterial infections while hospitalized between 2008 and 2023. Diagnostic efforts were pursued due to radiographic evidence of persistent to progressive lung lesions (n = 13), osteolytic lesions (n = 2), or death (n = 1). Mycobacteria were recovered from the respiratory tract by tracheal lavage (n = 7), bronchoscopic lung lavage (n = 4), lung biopsy (n = 4), and from bone by fine needle aspirate (n = 1). Mycobacterium chelonae was cultured from 12 turtles, and Mycobacterium syngnathidarum was cultured from one turtle. In two cases, presumptive mycobacteria were cultured, but species identification was not pursued. Culture was negative for one case despite the presence of acid-fast bacilli in histologic section. The average duration of targeted treatment was 114 d. Of the 16 turtles, 11 showed clinical improvement and were released to the wild, four were euthanized, and one died naturally. Nontuberculous mycobacterial infection is an uncommon but significant disease in cold-stunned KRST. Medical management is prolonged but often clinically successful. Additional investigations of treatment methods and long-term outcomes are warranted.

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• Read at Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine